Seafarers are 'an essential group of workers'
Port officials climbed aboard the container ship the SC Marigot during its stop in the Saint John Harbour today, to pay tribute and say thank you to the visiting crew as part of the International Day of the Seafarer.
The day, held on July 25, recognizes the role of seafarers around the world in keeping international supply chains afloat, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the past year and a half has been anything but smooth sailing for the already difficult profession, with seafarers stuck aboard their ships for extremely long stretches with no way to disembark unless it was for a medical emergency.
"Many ships' crews work anywhere from three to four months at a time, they go home for a short break – and under international convention their time aboard a ship cannot exceed 12 months," says Captain Chris Hall, the harbour master for the Port of Saint John.
"However due to COVID and all the travel restrictions … many times seafarers could not get off the ship when their contracts expired, and there was at one point 400,000 seafarers globally who were past their 12 month limit."
The captain of the SC Marigot, which was preparing to set sail to New York before heading even further south to Savannah, Georgia – says the situation has improved, though there are still challenges.
"COVID hinders us regarding crew changes, because it's not really convenient to go home, especially if the ports have restrictions," says Capt. Francisco Baguip Jr.
It's estimated that over 19,000 seafarers visited the Port of Saint John last year.
"Ninety per cent of what we consume is moved around the globe on ships," says Port of Saint John CEO Jim Quinn.
"They're an essential group of workers who allow us to have the comfort that we have."
One of the more recent challenges faced by seafarers is getting access to COVID-19 vaccines. The International Maritime Organization has encouraged giving priority access to vaccinations to seafarers.
"The reasons are varied, but most of it comes down to the fact that they're not home for very long, and sometimes the countries where they're from, access to the vaccine is very difficult," says Capt. Hall.
"The other problem is as they're moving around the world for extended periods of time, the countries which they visit do not have vaccines to offer them. So not only are they waiting longer than normal, they don't have access to vaccines like the rest of us do."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.