“We’re a charity that’s been running for more than 200 years, and I don’t think we’ve ever seen a humanitarian crisis like this within the maritime industry.”
Having supported the seafaring community since 1818, this stark assessment from Sailors’ Society director of media and advocacy Melanie Warman goes some way to understanding the pressures Covid has placed upon those who work at sea.
Throughout 2020, with its port closures, travel restrictions and an inability to operate, thousands of crew – onboard cargo liners to cruise vessels – are experiencing far different voyages to anything they’ve known before.
