A seafarer onboard
a container ship sent a call for help to IMO on 12 April 2020. His contract,
which was due to finish at the end of March, had been extended for another
month. The seafarer claimed that his company was failing to take action to
change crew, even though government assistance made that option possible.
The main thing is our
psychological health said a seafarer onboard container ship
While the seafarer
recognised that he and his colleagues were not in a critical situation
physically, he described serious impacts on their mental health. "We have
meals, everything is okay, but the main thing is our psychological
health", the seafarer told IMO's Seafarer Crisis Action Team (SCAT) in his
first email.
The SCAT referred
the seafarer to the relevant national maritime administration and trade unions,
while also bringing the matter to the attention of the flag and port States
concerned. This diplomatic intervention helped resolve the case, and the flag
State confirmed it would assist the seafarer with his contract and
repatriation.
You are really a man with a big heart
wrote a seafarer from home to a SCAT team member for his help
The seafarer and another
crew member were able to return home safely in May. In an email, the seafarer
warmly thanked a SCAT team member for his help and support, writing: "you
are really a man with a big heart". |