1. Norwegian Cruise Line Crew Arrive Back in the Philippines.
12 March 2021 : Norwegian Cruise Line has repatriated 879 Filipino Seafarers flown into the ships in December of last year in anticipation of the restart of cruises. It has been an operation that has cost Norwegian Cruise Line millions of USD a month since December.
The sailors all flew back to Manila after disembarking the Norwegian Joy in Aruba, in the Dutch Caribbean. The seafarers landed in Manila International Airport in two separate groups.
According to a Department of Foreign Affairs press release, 586 Filipino seafarers arrived from Aruba on March 6. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings arranged two chartered flights for the first repatriation group. The second group of crew members arrived on March 8, said DFA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Y. Arriola.
2. NIMASA trains 788 seafarers to improve port handling.
11 March 2021 : The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Bashir Jamoh, has described seafarers as the lifeblood of shipping. Jamoh stated this at the graduating ceremony of seafarers under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme in Lagos, according to a statement signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Philip Kyanet, and emailed to our correspondent.
The NIMASA boss in the statement titled ‘Nigeria intensifies seafarers training to fast-track shipping development, economic diversification’, presented certificates to 788 seafarers trained and certificated.
He said, “Seafarers are the lifeblood of shipping, and shipping is not only an economic imperative for us in Nigeria, but it is also a key part of the country’s economic diversification effort.”
3. AAPA, IAMPE Forge New Education & Training Agreement.
11 March 2021 : The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)—the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas—and the International Association of Maritime Port Executives (IAMPE) – the worldwide association focused on port and maritime industry workforce training and professional development – have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on providing mutually-beneficial educational and career development programming for port industry professionals.
Both AAPA and IAMPE have in place professional development and training certification programs based on a well-established and highly regarded industry training framework. Each association’s programs provide port and marine transportation personnel with a professional credential documenting their successful completion.
4. Indian Seafarers To Be Promoted Amongst Greek-Norwegian Shipowners.
10 March 2021 : India’s maritime ventures seem to be paying off as maritime bodies in Europe have decided to support Indian seafarers. According to the Government of India’s, Maritime India vision document, several international maritime bodies are holding roadshows in Europe in an attempt to promote Indian seafarers to the maritime world.
This is part of the Maritime India Vision 2030 plan which was unveiled by the Indian Prime Minister last week, as part of the Maritime India Summit. “India”s oldest union of merchant navy officers, The Maritime Union of India or MUI has planned to hold roadshows in European countries of Greece and Norway to promote Indian seafarers amongst local foreign shipowners in the current year,” read the statement issued by the government.
5. India: Charting course for maritime growth.
10 March 2021 : Invest in our ports. Invest in our people. Let India be your preferred trade destination. Let Indian ports be your port of call for trade and commerce,” PM Narendra Modi said at the Maritime India Summit-2021, inviting global investors. His words define the aspirations of New India and its ports & maritime sector.
The Indian maritime sector accounts for 95% of EXIM trade by volume, and is a significant employment generator. India’s coastline is 1.05% of the global coastline, and the country accounts for 10.4% of global maritime trade in FY 2019. It contributes 9.03% of the total seafarers (officers) globally, making it an integral part of the shipping ecosystem.
India’s position in the global maritime sector is fundamental for international trade. This trade is facilitated by the growing port capacity in India.
6. New Zealand: Govt fulfilling commitment to improve seafarer welfare.
9 March 2021 : The Government is fulfilling its pre-election commitment to allow more support to seafarers visiting New Zealand, Transport Minister Michael Wood announced today. The Maritime Transport Act will be amended through the Regulatory Systems (Transport) Amendment Bill to allow maritime levies to be used to provide support services coordinated by the Seafarers Welfare Board.
Transport Minister Michael Wood said COVID-19 has impacted massively on international shipping lines and this has meant seafarers need support. “Border and health restrictions often mean crews are out at sea for months on end with limited ability to contact their families. “The Seafarers Welfare Board provides support and services to seafarers who are vital to maintaining New Zealand’s global trade lines.
7. Seafarers to get more support, counselling, access to internet.
9 March 2021 : The Seafarers Welfare Board has been providing counselling, access to books, the internet and toll calls to seafarers for years. Running off charity donations a law change will see part of the Maritime Levy go towards the board which operates in 11 ports around the country.
Transport Minister Michael Wood said some crew members had been at sea for 18 months with little to no contact with their families, so onshore support was vital. “The board ensured Wi-Fi units were made available for ships calling at New Zealand ports, this gives seafarers the chance to connect with their families after months at sea and board staff communicating with them provides an avenue to raise concerns and complaints.
8. Equality for Women Means Progress for All.
9 March 2021 : A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions—all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.
From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge. In this guest blog, Dryad’s Belle Davenport, shares how her preconceptions about the maritime industry have changed and why it’s still imperative for the shipping industry to #ChooseToChallenge inequality.
Maritime security was never an industry that I considered joining. On the surface the term maritime security seems very specific, only concerning protecting ships and their cargo. It was only when I came across the advertisement for my current role that I delved deeper into the industry.
10. All-women crew of Indian Vessel MT Swarna Krishna makes history.
8 March 2021 : In an attempt to acknowledge the efforts of women in breaking down the stereotypes in erstwhile male-dominated maritime sector, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has flagged off an all-women crew onboard Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) vessel MT Swarna Krishna, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said on Sunday.
The vessel was virtually flagged off by the Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister on March 6, it said. “The Shipping Corporation of India, as a part of its ongoing Diamond Jubilee celebrations and also to commemorate the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021, achieved another feat when Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, virtually flagged off the ‘All Women Officers’ Sailing’ on MT Swarna Krishna – SCI’s product carrier from JNPT Liquid Berth Jetty on March 6, 2021,” the Ministry statement said.
11. Nigeria intensifies seafarers training to fast-track shipping development, economic diversification.
8 March 2021 : With maritime now being positioned to play a central role in Nigeria’s economic diversification drive, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is intensifying the training and certification of seafarers to enhance the country’s position in an increasingly competitive maritime world.
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, disclosed this while presenting certificates to graduands of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) at the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
A total of 788 seafarers were trained and certificated in the latest batch.Jamoh stated, “Seafarers are the lifeblood of shipping, and shipping is not only an economic imperative for us in Nigeria, it is also a key part of the country’s economic diversification effort. Our investment in the training of seafarers is deliberate; it is part of our shipping development agenda.”
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