International 24-hour helpline SeafarerHelp, run by the International Seafarers’ Welfare and also Assistance Network (ISWAN), has actually experienced a rise sought after as the unique coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impacts seafarers worldwide.
In April 2020 alone, ISWAN’s SeafarerHelp managed over 600 brand-new situations– greater than triple the number in the very same month in 2015. Many of these situations include seafarers experiencing problems as an outcome of the COVID-19 break out. In truth, approximately 1 May 2020, the helpline has actually taped over 470 COVID-19-related situations influencing greater than 7,000 seafarers.
So much, one of the most typical COVID-19-related trouble reported by seafarers to SeafarerHelp is trouble with repatriation. Crews around the globe have actually been left stranded, incapable to get off from their vessels as a result of port constraints or incapable to make their residence as soon as onto land as a result of lockdown procedures.
Representation Image– Credits: ISWAN
In situations such as these, SeafarerHelp’s helpline police officers deal with a network of organisations consisting of ship proprietors, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), federal government companies, well-being bodies, and also ISWAN’s very own local groups in the Philippines, India and also Nigeria, that remain in close call with their nationwide maritime authorities, to prepare the assistance the seafarers require.
However, most of SeafarerHelp’s situations are taken care of in-house. The helpline’s police officers are learnt coaching abilities, psychological assistance and also self-destruction danger analysis and also have actually been sustaining seafarers speaking to the helpline with stress and anxiety and also anxiousness brought on by the COVID-19 situation. Over 100 situations until now include seafarers looking for monetary aid, and also the SeafarerHelp group has actually referred those qualified to the ISWAN Hardship Fund and alsoSeafarers Emergency Fund A comparable variety of situations were ask for info on subjects such as visas, signing up with ships or port constraints, and also SeafarerHelp supplies an initial port of phone call for those uncertain where to go.
SeafarerHelp Deputy Team Manager Yasmine Zhao stated: ‘Our helplines are dealing well throughout the COVID-19 situation, although that we ourselves are under lockdown and also everyone is functioning from residence.
‘Due to the spreading of the coronavirus outbreak, we have seen a rapid increase in the number of calls coming into our helplines. The number of calls more than tripled in April 2020 if you compare with the number of contacts we received in the same period last year. To be able to deal with the high volume of calls, we have added extra shifts and extra staff on top of our normal shift pattern. Our team is working extremely hard to assist seafarers and their families worldwide.’
Ekaterina, among the SeafarerHelp police officers servicing the helpline, stated: ‘Every call is different. Sometimes seafarers are happy to get news and current updates; sometimes they need a lot of emotional support. We ask questions and listen to what a seafarer needs. We are happy to follow the lead of the call and stay in touch with seafarers until they feel better or until their problem is resolved.’
ISWAN’s SeafarerHelp is offered 1 day a day, 365 days a year, and also the helpline group talks a variety of various languages. Seafarers and also their households can call the helpline using a variety of networks consisting of telephone, email, WhatsApp and also Live Chat, and also talk in complete confidence to an experienced helpline policeman. More info regarding SeafarerHelp and also get in touch with information can be located at www.seafarerhelp.org.
