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Covid-19 has the world in its clutches, and everyone is being asked to practise physical distancing, good hygiene and to stay home to help flatten this deadly curve.
Yet as we stay home to remain safe, there are many South Africans battling just to get home from abroad.
Eleven South Africans working for United Offshore Support (UOS), a Leer-based service provider to the offshore industry, have been stuck in Trinidad and Tobago for the past two months.
The stranded crew cannot return home, because borders, airports and ports are closed worldwide to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
A 39-year-old seafarer, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, said they have five vessels anchored in the country and all the South Africans are past their sign-off dates, meaning they had to be home already.
Members of the seafarer's group from South Africa have been contacting government agencies via email, pleading for assistance, but are yet to receive a response.
A spokesperson for UOS, Cor Radings, has confirmed that there are 11 South Africans on board their vessels in Trinidad and Tobago and that the company is doing all it can to bring all their employees back home, given the circumstances.
“Since the outbreak of Covid 19, the unprecedented global situation has brought enormous challenges not only for our company and seafarers but for all shipping companies and crews worldwide.
“The most difficult has been the ability to change seafaring staff at their allotted times.
“Whilst we have prioritised the repatriation of our seafarers who have been working at sea the longest time, the conditions for crew changes have deteriorated quickly.
“Ports around the world have been extending their quarantine conditions, countries have closed their borders and airlines have stopped flying, with opportunities to achieve scheduled crew transfers in a safe manner becoming less and less,” Radings said.
He said for health and safety reasons, authorities in Trinidad and Tobago have prohibited crew changes in the country.
“To resolve this wholly unforeseen and extremely difficult situation, we have been exploring alternatives for the safe repatriation and crew changes of all our crew, including the South African seafarers onboard our ships.
“During this process, we and our crew have asked for the co-operation of authorities in both Trinidad and Tobago and other areas of the world, including South Africa,” Radings said.
He said the company was now seeking permission from where they’re anchored at the moment for chartered flights to Amsterdam; however, this would only allow their European seafarers to be repatriated.
A spokesperson for the South African Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) Lunga Ngqengelele said the department was working with embassies across the world and had asked all individuals to register with the South African embassies.
“We are aware that South Africans are still stuck in many parts of the world. The department, working with our embassies, is doing everything it can to find ways to bring them back.
“We ask those who haven't registered with our embassies to do so.
“If they are unable to reach our embassies, they can call the department’s 24-hour command centre on +27-12-351-1754 or +27-12-351-1756 or email cicc1@dirco.gov.za or cicc2@dirco.gov.za or contact Dirco’s Ops Room on +27-12-351-1000,” Ngqengelele said.
- African News Agency (ANA)
