Former UK shipping minister Nusrat Ghani has challenged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to help ease the crisis for the nearly half a million seafarers who have become trapped on ships because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ghani, who lost her post in government after Johnson was elected in December, on Wednesday used her position as a member of parliament to ask the prime minister to help lead international efforts to free the blocks to the exchange of seafarers.
“We will remain fully committed to the welfare of all seafarers regardless of their nationality, and we ask all states to do the same, and I look forward to discussing that in person with my honourable friend,” Johnson told Ghani during prime minister’s questions in the House of Commons.
Essential workers
Shipowners, labour unions, the secretary general of the United Nations, and even the Pope have all made appeals in recent weeks to governments worldwide to treat seafarers as essential workers and expedite their transfer on and off vessels.
There have been many instances documented of working crews being prevented from leaving ships and new crews from joining due to bureaucratic hurdles with airlines, airports, immigration, local and port regulations.
"Seafarers – global key workers - have given us goods from food to medicines during Covid-19, but this is now all under threat,” Ghani told parliament.
“400,000 mariners are stuck onboard their ships due to the failures of countries agreeing crew changes. The United Kingdom is the world's leading maritime nation, and we are home to the IMO, which gives us a unique responsibility.
“Will my honourable friend, the prime minister, agreed to meet with the Chamber of Shipping to marshal the global community to help get our seafarers home and ensure that free trade continues to flow?”
In response to the exchanges in parliament, Guy Platten, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping said: “We welcome the intervention from the UK Prime Minister and his statement that his government remains committed to the welfare of seafarers.
“We also appreciate his request that all states do the same and we will work with his government and all governments to facilitate crew change for our heroes at sea. The UK continues to show leadership and we hope that others will hear the call.”
Day of the Seafarer
He added that tomorrow’s Day of the Seafarer could help raise the profile of the problem.
“For the past four months crew change has all but completely stopped. This means that crew have not been able to disembark or embark ships at port and terms have had to be extended, but this is not sustainable,” Platten said.
“The Day of the Seafarer is the ideal moment send out an all hands-on deck call to push politicians to classify these unsung heroes of global trade as key workers and provide immediate visa waivers.
Immediately after the election, Ghani was tipped for a more senior government position having built a reputation as an effective and charismatic minister after launching a range of significant initiatives for the UK maritime sector.
However, she left to return to the backbenches, with speculation suggesting either that she was sacked having backed the main rival to Johnson in the earlier leadership battle or that she was not satisfied with the post offered.
