Sailors Stuck at Sea, Supply Threatened During Pandemic
July 25, 2021
FILE - A cargo ship docks as its cargo is unloaded at Haifa s port, northern Israel, Oct. 12, 2020.
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Captain Tejinder Singh has not set foot on dry land in more than seven months. He is not sure when he will go home.
Singh is among tens of thousands of ship workers stuck at sea as the coronavirus spreads on land. He said sailors like him are not valued. He added, We are forgotten.”
Singh and most of his 20-person crew have traveled from India to the United States then on to China. He spoke to the Reuters news service from the Pacific Ocean as his ship now heads to Australia.
The explosion in consumer demand over the past year and a half was the trigger of the ongoing global shipping crisis. There was some hope demand for goods would ease this year, but up until now, it has stayed at record highs. On the other hand, wait times have never been longer and the logistical nightmare faced by global supply chains seems to have no clear end in sight. Experts are now predicting that it will take at least another year before the shipping crisis starts to stabilize. However, the uncontrolled spread of the new virus variant and the slower pace of staff vaccination may jeopardize that forecast. Unfortunately, this means also the worst is yet to come. Supply chains are about to face many more disruptions and consumers will have to deal with extensive shortages from now on.
SOS: Stranded and shattered seafarers threaten global supply lines indiatimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from indiatimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
INSIGHT-SOS: Stranded and shattered seafarers threaten global supply lines Reuters 13 hrs ago COVID curbs leave 100,000 commercial seafarers stranded at sea Another 100,000 are stuck on shore, unable to earn a living Only 2.5% have been vaccinated, shipping body estimates Shipping industry turmoil could threaten global supply lines (Adds latest IMO figures on key workers classification)
By Jonathan Saul and Roslan Khasawneh
LONDON/SINGAPORE, July 20 (Reuters) - I ve seen grown men cry, says Captain Tejinder Singh, who hasn t set foot on dry land in more than seven months and isn t sure when he ll go home. We are forgotten and taken for granted, he says of the plight facing tens of thousands of seafarers like him, stranded at sea as the Delta variant of the coronavirus wreaks havoc on shore.
Stranded and shattered seafarers threaten global supply lines thestar.com.my - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thestar.com.my Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.