The far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the shipping industry is still fermenting, especially the continued loss of control of the epidemic situation in India, which has exceeded the "stuck ship" incident in the Suez Canal at the end of March, and all aspects of the shipping industry, including empty container turnover, ship turnover and crew change, have been further affected and fallen into a more vulnerable situation.
At present, there are about 1.6 million crew members working on international cargo ships around the world, and with the closure of India in various places, some ports have also banned cargo ships that have visited India from berthing, affecting the crew who cannot change shifts, far more than these 240,000 Indian crew.
In this case, the impact on the mental health of the crew seems to have gone beyond the level of invisible mental health, and in some cases has risen to the level of explicit excessive behavior. Recently, there have indeed been incidents of clashes caused by the stress and anxiety of the crew on the ship, such as the collective exclusion of Indian crew members on board (click to view link), crew members jumping ship without authorization (click on the link to view) and other incidents.
However, as the crisis persists and affects, the impact on the psychology of the crew will still be manifested through explicit behavior. Recently, there has been another incident in which the crew "fled" without authorization after the ship docked at the port, and triggered a large-scale pursuit by the local police, causing great panic in the port and the local city...
Recently, when a livestock transport ship "POLARIS 3" docked at the port of Townsville, Australia, a Pakistani crew member on board violated local quarantine regulations, disembarked without authorization and crossed the epidemic isolation line and entered the local community, triggering an international quarantine and a frenzied search by Australian border guards.
It is reported that the livestock transport ship "POLARIS 3" is the port of call at Huanghua Port, a total of 37 crew members on board, after 17 days of sailing, arrived in the Australian port of Townsville on Saturday (May 8).
According to witnesses, the crew left the ship at 8 p.m. on May 8 and was last seen leaving port in a white van.
The livestock transport ship Polaris 3 had been at sea for 17 days before reaching Townsville Harbour.
Port officials said that under border regulations, it is a serious act to prohibit foreign crew members from leaving ships without the permission of the relevant authorities, and it is the first time it has happened in this port.
"It is not known how the crew escaped the quarantine line, it is a large port with a lot of vehicles coming in and out, it is difficult to determine his whereabouts."
"Local residents are very panicked and government agencies are providing support to protect the community and ensure the health of the institutions and crews involved."
Thankfully, the Pakistani crew member, who did not wander the community for long, was taken into the hands of Queensland police on Monday (10 May) morning and handed over to Australian Border Guard personnel.
After the new crown virus nucleic acid test, the result was also negative. While searching for the crew, the Australian quarantine authorities tested 36 crew members on board for COVID-19, all of whom were negative, much to the relief of the Australian authorities.
POLARIS 3 docks at Townsville Harbour.
However, the crew member applied to the local government for asylum on the grounds that the ship changed shifts. Australian borders say the crew member has violated local border and quarantine regulations and faces serious charges and will remain in custody.
Subsequently, 11 other Syrian crew members on the livestock carrier refused to remain on board and made the same asylum request.
Seafarers Australia said that in the current situation, crew members are very vulnerable and if they need the necessary protection due to infringement, we have no reason to refuse.
It is reported that the Australian quarantine department has conducted a nucleic acid test for the new crown virus for the "fleeing" crew member and 11 other crew members. Thankfully, the results were all negative.
At present, the 1 "fleeing" crew member is under Australian border sequestration and facing trial, while the other 11 Syrian crew members who have requested to disembark are placed in the quarantine area of a hotel in Townsville.
Although the Pakistani crew member violated the local quarantine policy and made an extreme act of "fleeing", the crew change and psychological problems under the current epidemic situation had to further arouse and increase the vigilance and concern of the industry.
According to the Psychological Leave Support Service (MHSS), leave is an important way for seafarers to replenish their energy because they spend a long time at sea and we see a lot of outward manifestations of frustration, burnout, anxiety and panic, especially for young seafarers who are not used to extending contracts and have no life experience.
The agency also said these issues are amplified by COVID-19, "it is clear that seafarers' workplaces are unique and isolated, they spend months on board, they can suffer from work-disorders and lack of exercise, and they work long hours in difficult and even unsafe conditions, facing insecurity." In addition, because they cannot communicate deeply with family and friends who have a common language, but live with crew members with very different values, languages and cultures, this will make them more depressed and anxious.
"After this state of mind lasts for a year, it's hard to anticipate what will happen to the crew on board." MHSS said.
Norman Schmiedl, head of the fleet department at Crowning, said that crew members still tend to be mainly male, and male crew members are usually more likely to talk about their psychological emotions to those around them, "We are through training, posters and phone calls to the captain, etc., to let the crew take a correct view of their mental health problems, prompting them to change their mentality, willing to give timely feedback on their psychological emotions to those around them." ”
He stressed that even if crew members are trained to find their mental health at red light, they must always seek the advice of outside experts.
It is understood that Columbia Ship Management has been working with MHSS to educate seafarers on how to maintain their mental health, and it recommends that seafarers stay in touch with friends and family, stay in touch with colleagues through social activities such as basketball, table tennis and barbecue, eat well, exercise physically and focus on good sleep.
During COVID-19, a new insurance product, ColumbiaCrewCare, was subsidized for crew members, which offers seafarers' life insurance as well as a medical plan, pension plan or investment plan to buy a house/car for as little as $1.20 per day. "After taking this benefit, we have evidence that the shipping company is indeed caring for the seafarers and their families, whether at sea or on shore, and contributes to the psychological stability of the seafarers on the ship."
Shipping companies that focus on the mental health of their crews during COVID-19 will reap even greater benefits. Mark O'Neil, CEO of Columbia Ship Management Company and President of InterManager, a ship management association, said there is a need for shipping companies and shipowners to put crew mental health first, O'Neil said: "Companies that recognize the importance of crew mental health and cultivate crew mental health will undoubtedly benefit more, perform better during the COVID-19 pandemic and become stronger after the COVID-19 pandemic." InterManager represents more than 5,000 ships and 250,000 seafarers.
Maritime Services Network CNSS