Mariners worldwide deliver 80% of trade and are crucial to the supply chain.  This has been enhanced and more important since COVID and the global pandemic.  Every nation is affected by these circumstances.

Normally at sea for around 8 months at a time many have been forced to spend 16 or more months at sea during COVID.  Countries have closed their borders, flights stopped and extremely taxing rules put in place for any travel.  This has placed an extraordinary strain on the mental welfare of the mariners.  It has also put the safety of ships at risk.  

Mariners are stuck at home unable to travel and join ships to relieve their colleagues and have been unable to support their families.  In many ports seafarers are denied access even to the quayside and medical cases and compassionate leave has been problematic.  

Seafarers have continued their work and sacrifice but governments appear blind and or ignorant to the plight of the seafarers.  This is despite the fact that almost anything you have in your home came on a ship at some point in the logistics chain...  nurses, truckers and the Armed Forces did an amazing job like many others, but they all went home... seafarers did not.

We must get the world leadership to create a protocol that sets out the right of seafarers to travel to and from ships without the onerous regulations for special visas.  The industry will comply with vaccines and isolation/ quarantine but we must have a global enforceable protocol for the repatriation of mariners and the facilitation of health care in ports. Please be a voice for seafarers and sign the petition thank you.