Patience wears thin on crew change issue

Published Tue, Jun 23, 2020 · 09:50 PM

LAST week, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) - the global maritime and transport trades union body - sent a message to all seafarers on commercial ships about their right to go home after their contracted period had finished, even during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

It was couched in strong terms and was clearly also intended to grab the attention of the shipping industry and politicians.

It started off by saying: "Seafarers, we know that you, your loved ones, and your friends have had enough. You have the right to return home. While many countries have slowly started to ease c…