One aspect of the work force being devastated by the corona virus effects is the seafarer who gets stuck onboard due to travel ban placed both locally and internationally by various governments around the world.
However, in Nigeria and Port Harcourt in particular, things got so bad that those of us onboard became so fed up by the lack of understanding between the state government and the various authorities involve for reasons best known to them. We were never seen as essential workers and at the same time employers in the industry have placed all the burdens of economic or business down turn ranging from quarantine(no pay during this 14days isolation and testing before going onboard), salary cut and downsizing of the seafarers onboard. Where crew change is possible, the seafarer finds his or her way through road travel to their various destination at their own peril with only transport fare provided. The road travels are dangerous and risky at this time as we risk getting arrested or infected. But what will you do when your reliever has found his way onboard? Journey through the road is quite expensive and exploitative by security agents mounting the high ways. This has become our new normal in our localities until things changes as the effect of coranavirus eases out.
Life of a seaman as the corona virus pandemic rages on
We risk everything to keep goods and services flowing in midst of the pandemic
