Cruise Ships Plight estimated 300,000 still remain in limbo

[calendria]

 

 

300,000 seafarers still stuck on ships: 'We feel like hostages'

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/300000-seafarers-stuck-ships-feel-hostages/story?id=72948111

This from September 11, 2020

Please read and watch the video!  Heartbreaker!

ByMina Kaji
September 11, 2020, 10:22 AM
• 9 min read

"For the past six months we have been struggling to get back home," Mohitram told ABC News. "We feel like hostages here, being far away from our family and not being on land for so long."

The 28-year-old steward said he's one of a group of 103 Mauritian seafarers on three different MSC ships near the port of Santos Brazil. He said he received his last paycheck in March and that the company told him he will only be paid two months of "basic salary" if he doesn't get back on board within six months of repatriation.

"Most of the people here have loans, children and a family waiting at home," Mohitram said, "but they could not do anything or send money home. Some lost their dear ones and could not reach home."

MORE: Cruise lines to voluntarily suspend operations at US ports until mid-September
He called being stranded at sea "the worst experience of my life," in part because of the food. Sometimes they had "only bread and butter, just to fill our stomachs. Most of the time we were served only pork and beef. ... I'm just praying to get back on land soon with my family, eating homemade meals."

Mohitram and his coworkers resorted to striking on the open deck of the ship. MSC notified them on Thursday that their repatriation is "currently being finalized with Emirates Airlines and the local Mauritian authorities," according to a letter he shared with ABC News. If it goes as planned, Mohitram will return home Sept. 16 and be quarantined for 14 days.

The cruise industry has returned home more than 250,000 seafarers from ships around the world over the past few months, according to the ITF. However, an estimated 300,000 like Mohitram remain trapped worldwide, working beyond completion of their international contracts -- most aboard cargo and shipping vessels.

[heypeg]

I know this is awful

[makeblessed]

This is just awful; I hope the various decision makers are able to get them back home soon; I understand the restrictions because of Covid-19; but this seems like beyond a long time!

[ancmetro]

     Bring them back home!
     Covid-19 has ruined so many people's lives!

[countrygirl12]

I find it hard to believe people are still stuck on a cruise ship since March. Do people on the ship even have cov?  Even if they do they may as well let them dock because it is in every country in the world.  I think I would take my life jacket and jump in the water and start swimming.

[countrygirl12]

     Bring them back home!
     Covid-19 has ruined so many people's lives!

No the fear monger is what has ruined people's lives.

[1imaginarygirl]

This is insane! How do they still have food? Are they still out there due to Covid or is this some other legality that is holding them up? I mean, if it's about Covid, I'm sure it has made the rounds through the ship by now. Good grief.