The Pandemic’s Effects on the Maritime Industry
Everyone in the Maritime industry has been affected by the pandemic. It has had a significant effect on the maritime industry for both the businesses and individuals. Businesses have had to face tough choices ranging from how to operate, how to keep employees safe, hiring, and, unfortunately, laying off.
While many areas of the industry have taken a hit, arguably, the most affected is the cruise industry.
Cruise liners experienced being stuck at sea and then a total shutdown of their business. Some have recently set sail and others do not plan to carry passengers until late spring 2021. Fortunately for the mariners, the ships still need to be manned and maintained. Because of the versatility of the mariner and the innovative work ideas of boat owners, most segments experienced a slowdown but were able to survive. Now some are back to hiring and ramping up operations.
The spread of the virus has created a crewing chaos.
Boat owners created and implemented policies to keep employees safe. These policies were also designed to prevent an outbreak on a vessel that would shut down operations. Travel restrictions in many countries have created an environment where employers could not get their normal crews to the vessels. Lastly, crew members were getting the virus and were not able to make the hitch or had to be evacuated. With time and lots of trial and error this is an issue that has smoothed out but still requires the need for rapid contract workers that can fill in on a moment’s notice.
Implementing quarantines has gone a long way to help prevent large scale outbreaks aboard vessels but comes with added burdens.
Quarantines have created a large expense to the employer. Some quarantines are up to 2 weeks long. For the employer that equates to 2 weeks of food, lodging, and day rate. Quarantines have had a dramatic change in quality of life for the mariner. Quarantines cut into their time off and family time thus in effect extending the hitch anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks. Some companies pay the crew, and some do not for time in quarantine.
There is work out there and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
More recently, we have seen requests for temporary crew changed to request for permanent employees. Overall things are looking up for the maritime industry and hopefully 2021 will bring a new resurgence. We do all we can to help companies with their ship crewing needs. In many cases, we have been able to turn around and have a crewing need filled in a matter of hours. Being able to meet the needs of the clients and putting people back to work has been extremely rewarding.
Learn more about our crewing services or contact us today.
Post by Eric Baldacci