Mental health of ships’ crews at risk as they are stuck at sea for months because of coronavirus pandemic

Some 1.2 million seafarers keeping nations supplied with food and medical goods do not qualify as key workers, which would exempt them from health restrictions

Crews have been at sea continuously for up to a year, with shipowners unable to organise crew changes and ports denying sailors even a few hours of shore leave

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Concerns are mounting about the mental health of the shipping industry employees at sea amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Published: 7:15am, 25 Jun 2020Updated: 7:19am, 25 Jun 2020

The phrase “lost at sea” has taken on a depressing new meaning for the likes of Captain Hrisheet Barve, who recently arrived home in Goa, India, after more than seven-and-a-half months on a tanker.

“Most of my crew are married and were missing their children, but were stuck on board for eight or nine months. You can explain to your partner you don’t know when you’re coming home, but how do you explain to little kids?” Barve says.

Concerns are mounting about the mental health and well-being of thousands of seafarers stranded on their vessels for months on end, isolated and, like Barve, increasingly anxious about their families at home.

Unlike health workers, emergency services personnel and aircrew, some 1.2 million seafarers who are keeping countries supplied with vital food, fuel, and medical supplies do not qualify for exemptions to Covid-19 travel restrictions. This means many workers have been trapped on board for up to a year without a break, which is no cause for celebration today – the International Day of the Seafarer.

Hrisheet Barve recently arrived home in Goa, India, after more than seven-and-a-half months on a tanker.

Barve was commanding the 21-man crew of a large tanker and was scheduled to fly home from Houston in the US state of Texas in late March, but the lockdown in India meant he was unable to disembark for an extra three-and-a-half months. He admits that, at times, he got “a little down”.

Every month, about 200,000 crew members are changed at ports around the world to ensure safe working hours on board. It is estimated that some 300,000 are currently waiting to be relieved at sea. The crew changes are complex logistical challenges at the best of times, but with no exemptions for seafarers to strict quarantine measures, travel restrictions and lockdown rules, and most visa offices shut, it is proving almost impossible for shipping companies to get weary workers relieved.