Indian seafarers working onboard coastal ships – both Indian and foreign flagged vessels are denied entry into Indian ports as the port health authorities are not sure about allowing them entry due to COVID-19 protocols. Recently seafarers onboard Bulk Carrier MV Maithili have reported that they were not allowed shore leave to visit their relatives upon arriving at the Chennai Port. The seafarers have sent a representation to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) in Chennai.
Seafarers generally avail shore leave when their ship is docked at a port. It can range from a couple of hours to a few days, wherein they unboard the ship to visit their relatives. In a similar incident, family of a seafarer was not allowed to board MV CS Satira even though the seafarer had taken permission from the shp owner, but the port health officer denied permission due to COVID protocols.
As per information reported by officials from the London-based International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), though Covid restrictions have been relaxed across India, the Ministry of Health has directed port health officers not to let crew leave ships due to the pandemic. “When foreign tourists are allowed to move freely across the country, how can seafarers be unwelcome in their own country,” questioned a seafarer. A sailors’ helpline coordinator argued, “Cruise ship Empress is operating between Chennai and Visakhapatnam Ports moving thousands of passengers, without any restrictions related to COVID. The travellers are free to enter and leave the port. Similarly, airline pilots and cabin crew are allowed to enter and leave the airport freely. Only seafarers are being cornered.”
