Worst Shipping Crisis Puts Lives and Trade at Risk

The Covid-19 pandemic has upended life as we knew it for the past 8 months — but one thing that’s remained uninterrupted is the flow of goods transported by ships. Cargo containers, bulkers and other merchant vessels have continued to transport everything from medicines to electronics to oils. The vessels rely on more than 1.6 million seafarers globally to operate the ships — the pandemic has stranded nearly 20% of seafarers, due to closed ports and borders and cut air flights.

In conversations with Bloomberg reporters, more than 40 active seafarers on nearly as many ships described deteriorating conditions. Nearly half didn’t have current contracts and some said they hadn’t been paid in more than two months. Overtime pay was inconsistent, if extra hours were logged at all, according to the crew. Most haven’t left their ships in months after outbreaks tied to cruise liners and merchant ships put an end to shore leave.