The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is calling on the shipping companies to step up and put an end to the ordeal of seafarers stuck off China due to its trade dispute with Australia.
The industry body is aware that the endavour would cost millions of dollars, however, the ITF believes this is the right thing to do.
MSC has set an example for the industry with the recent solution for crew relief of MSC Anastasia bulker via a port stop in Japan.
The move followed months of inaction from the governments and port authorities, so the company had to step in for the sake of the crew’s well being.
The company said that after exhausting all options it advised the master of Anastasia to make a short hop to Japan on 4 February.
Namely, many of the crew members have been at sea for several months longer than was initially anticipated due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions and ultimately inability to sign off in China.
The crew finally came home earlier this week.
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