In Covid-19 pandemic, when there was a lock-down, on one hand, people on streets were wearing masks, trying to hoard items in their homes and so forth. On the other hand, the seafarers, the keyworkers were working 24×7 to keep the world economy moving. This scenario was unfolding when trade wars are going around the world and many economies are decoupling from each other creating more problems for seafarers as many ships are stuck at many ports around the world.
Many shipping centres around the world were too late in looking after the seafarers and many were interested in protecting their domestic populace. Now 7-8 months later, people around the world are talking about seafarers, though it is a good sign, but it is not enough. Many companies made seafarers work on the ship for months without relieving them or it took months for many seafarers to reach their better-halves. However, still seafarers were not part of thinking of decision makers. Like hospital workers and doctors were awarded, I request that seafarers around the world in every economy are rewarded for their heroism and sacrifice for humanity during pandemic. When I say awards, I do not mean a few awards in Oscar-awards like ceremonies for a few captains or chief engineers or ship mangers from shore offices. I mean proper welfare and awards for cooks, able seamen, fitters and so forth, who have sacrificed a way more, when they were already on meagre salaries.
See attached file: Seafarers Have No Nationality.pdf
租约下提前还船
在全球疫情引发的经济衰退的大环境下，航运市场之前也伴随着租金下跌，会员对此应该记忆犹新。在这种环境下，租家就会试图脱离合同条款提前还船，以另寻更有利可图的交易。但是，这样必然带来更高的诉讼风险和随之而来的抗辩费用。
首先，我们要着重考虑租家在约定的最短租期结束前还船时需要承担的责任。其次，我们要解决按照租约下严苛的还船通知要求时的一个常见陷阱，这与合理期限内的提前还船互相冲突。
详细信息请参阅附件。
