LONDON (Reuters) – Delivering companies are still struggling to get numerous countless crew members back home after many months at sea regardless of pledges by countries to alleviate transit restrictions for seafarers, market authorities state.

Countries consisting of the UK, the United States, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the Philippines pledged this month to improve efforts to assist seafarers, a number of whom have been on ships longer than the 11- month limitation set out in a maritime labour convention.

Other nations, such as India, have likewise concurred to do more to help such ship employees.

However, shipping authorities say there is still little modification in a scenario that the United Nations has actually referred to as a “humanitarian crisis”, while maritime well-being charities have actually alerted of a boost in suicides.

Leading Norwegian shipping company Wallenius Wilhemsen, which transports cars and trucks and other vehicles, said it had rerouted 4 of its vessels – out of a fleet of 120 ships – to other ports but had actually so far handled to change over just 45 crew members out of 2,000

” This is away from being fixed. The issue is intricate and a team modification involves a number of countries, so the obstacle is frequently inconsistent or conflicting policies in between countries, states or perhaps within the country,” a Wallenius Wilhemsen spokesperson stated.

” Considered that the situation has actually been going on for so long, documents problems are escalating. We have had difficulty with visas, medical etc expiring, but now also we have some seafarers whose passports are expiring. With lots of consulates closed or at reduced capability, this is a challenge.”

Another ship owner, who decreased to be named, had to send a ship operating in West Africa to the British area of Gibraltar– 13 days’ sailing time– for crew members to disembark to avoid visa problems in European Union nations.

” Ships and their teams are having to go to extraordinary lengths just to undertake what would normally be considered a completely routine team change,” stated Man Platten of the International Chamber of Shipping.

” There are now over a quarter of a million seafarers trapped at sea and over half a million being impacted. There is still so much more to be done.”