seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

Coronavirus: More cargo ship seafarers test positive
Cichen Shen 30 Mar 2020

Two Hong Kong-flagged dry bulkers are reported to have crew members who have contracted coronavirus. Pacific Basin has confirmed the infection on its ship while Cosco Shipping has denied the case on its vessel

DFA: 370 Pinoy crew arrive from Italy as COVID-19 hits more cruise ships
MICHAELA DEL CALLAR March 29, 2020 https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/731761/dfa-370-pinoy-cr...

Some 370 Filipino sailors from three cruise liners docked in Italy arrived in the Philippines Saturday evening as coronavirus infections threaten various ships across the world.

4,000 Filipino cruise ship members to come home amid quarantine restrictions
CNN Philippines Staff Mar 28, 2020 https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/28/filipino-cruise-ship-members-a...

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 28) — Thousands of Filipino crew ship members are set to come home in the coming days, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. said Saturday.

UPL offers assistance to stranded seafarers
Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat March 26, 2020 https://business.mb.com.ph/2020/03/26/upl-offers-assistance-to-stranded-...

United Philippine Lines (UPL), one of the country’s leading ship management and manning agencies, is working with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to provide transportation, temporary shelter and financial assistance to stranded seafarers as a result of the COVIC- 19 pandemic.

Locsin: Filipino seafarers from virus-stricken Italian ship to be repatriated
Willard Cheng Mar 26 2020 https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/03/26/20/locsin-filipino-seafarers-fro...

MANILA--Filipino seafarers from a virus-stricken Italian cruise ship will be repatriated, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Thursday.

Quarantine and the seafarer
Ambassador Carlos Salinas March 25, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/03/25/business/maritime-business/quaran...

Carnival Cruise Line to fly home Filipino crew members
March 27, 2020 https://usa.inquirer.net/53572/carnival-cruise-line-to-fly-home-filipino...

ORLANDO, Florida — Carnival Cruise Line will use charter planes to send home Filipino and Indonesian crew members, the company through its Carnival Breeze Hotel director announced March 25.

'Stranded at sea': cruise ships around the world are adrift as ports turn them away
Erin McCormick 27 Mar 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/stranded-at-sea-cruise-shi...

A Guardian analysis finds that at least 10 ships remain at sea – and four passengers have died while being stranded

Thank You Seafarers
03-25-2020 https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/thank-you-seafarers

The maritime industry has issued a statement of thanks to seafarers, via InterManager:

“With all the anxiety and uncertainty that is happening the world over as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, now might seem like a surprising time to talk about remaining positive. Yet staying optimistic is a vital mechanism that’s paramount in a crisis.

Trapped at Sea by Covid-19 Lockdowns, Crew Members Plead for Help
Matt Apuzzo and Selam Gebrekidan March 25, 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/25/world/europe/coronavirus-ship-crews-t...

The seafarers who deliver gas, food and medicine are being forced to keep working. They cannot leave the ship: ‘We want to go home.’