Synergy Marine chief executive Rajesh Unni has revealed how his ship management company is tackling the devastating effects of India's escalating Covid-19 crisis.

The CEO arrived at the company's office in Chennai on 17 April, having travelled from Singapore.

In an emotional interview with TradeWinds, Unni said the company had received early feedback that healthcare was breaking down in the country.

"It's been a nightmare, to be honest," he said.

The CEO added that what is being shown on news programmes is very far from the whole truth, as cases reach record levels and families desperately seek oxygen supplies on the black market.

Mother and wife lost to virus

"A few days ago, I was talking to one of our captains," said Unni.

"He lost his mum five days before, he had lost his wife that day, and he was waiting 14 hours to cremate her."

Unni also said he had been trying to see if there was any way to get a colleague from Chennai to Bopal, where his father had been hospitalised with Covid-19.

Synergy even investigated hiring a private plane, but nothing was available.

The father was eventually asked to leave the hospital because a bed was needed for someone younger.

"People are making these choices in hospital of who should live and who should not," Unni said.

Rajesh Unni is chief executive of Synergy Marine. Photo: Synergy Marine

Synergy itself is trying to source oxygen concentrators through its private networks.

These are basically portable oxygen cylinders that can be kept at home, Unni explained.

And the CEO said medical volunteers are also needed.

Staying in India

"The spread of this wave is so fast the healthcare workers are getting infected much faster, so they need more people to be there on the frontline," Unni added.

"It's a bit tricky because you are asking somebody to go into the line of fire."

Unni can return to Singapore as he is a permanent resident, although he would have to quarantine in a hotel for 21 days.

But what is keeping him in India is the big onshore team there.

"I like to be 'boots on the ground'. From a conscience standpoint it doesn't suit me well if I stayed there [Singapore]," he said.

Unni's own family in India has been safe so far.

"They have been fortunate," he added.

Synergy has set up separate teams to focus on crew welfare, sourcing hospital places and medicines, while also opening not-for-profit 24/7 mental health helplines for any seafarer in the world. These are based in India and the Philippines.

Unni's own assistant recently tested positive for Covid-19 and was only able to find the drugs she needed at 3am one night.

Purpose questioned

"My wife sometimes asks me, is this a counselling centre or what?" Unni said.

"We get so many calls and everybody has a problem. We are calling doctors and finding medical shops that are open."

And the crisis has even led to the CEO questioning his own role in society.

"Is this just running a business or is it also about building an impact? That will always be my driver in life — how to build a positive impact in society," he said.