The Round Table grouping of shipping associations has sent a letter to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on the eve of Black Friday, asking him to offer his support to the shipping industry’s 400,000 stranded seafarers.
The letter started by informing Bezos of the plight of seafarers who are trapped on ships by the coronavirus pandemic but are continuing to transport goods for the online retailer’s celebrated sales days.
“If ships do not sail, events on the scale of Black Friday or Cyber Monday would be impossible.
"Yet unforgivably, more than 400,000 of our seagoing colleagues and seafarers, who underpin the movement of goods around the world, are currently stranded on board their vessels, because governments will not recognise their crucial role and prioritise them for immigration and travel purposes,” the letter said.
It pointed out many seafarers have been away from home and families for more than a year and their mental wellbeing is “rapidly deteriorating”.
The letter's signatories urged Bezos use his “unparalleled influence” to join them in making the public aware of the plight of seafarers.
The shipping associations said that Bezos could help influence the highest level of government including the incoming Biden administration in the US.
The letter continued: “You have the power to make a real difference for 400,000 dedicated professionals whose self-sacrifice is keeping the world’s marketplace running. Without these seafarers, global trade as we know it would simply cease to exist.”
The letter was signed by Bimco president Sadan Kaptanoglu, International Chamber of Shipping chairman Esben Poulsson, Intercargo chairman Dimitris Fafalios and Intertanko chairman Paolo d’Amico.
