Bangladeshi mariners are losing job deals worldwide due to failing to get the coronavirus vaccine in time and prolonged delay in getting the certificate of proficiency (CoP) from the maritime regulator.
Most of the Bangladeshi mariners sign off in Singapore port where, according to Singaporean law, mariners need to have covid PCR test in the previous port. This becomes impossible in most cases. Besides, after signing off they need to do a PCR test again in Singapore before flying to Bangladesh.
At a press meet, the mariners demanded the Prime Minister to dedicate two hospitals in Dhaka and Chittagong for their quick vaccination.
They said signing in to vessels for Bangladeshi mariners abroad has become almost impossible due to the delay in getting vaccines, the absence of PCR test facilities at Bangladeshi airports, and complications over getting CoP.
There are some 10,000 Bangladeshi mariners for oceangoing vessels who earn nearly US$470 million a year, but due to the absence of the government’s proper initiative, their jobs are now under threat.
Densely populated Bangladesh is struggling to ensure vaccines for its 160 million people. Data shows that only 5.4% of the country’s population has so far gotten vaccines.
The ministry of shipping tried to give mariners vaccines on a priority basis considering the importance of their works but failed to do so due to the lack of required vaccines.
Vice President of Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers Association Engineer, Mahbubur Rahman said despite some 10,000 marine cadets have registered for vaccination, only a handful of them could secure jabs so far.
Many are waiting a long period for receiving a message from the health service to get vaccinated. Due to the late vaccination, many mariners are failing to join jobs abroad despite securing job confirmation.
Additionally, Rahman pointed out that due to the pandemic situation the mariners are also failing to reach Bangladeshi embassies abroad to renew their passports and electronic travel pass and demanded the government’s initiative to help the easy return of seafarers who are now staying abroad.
Rahman went on to say that the European Union has made mandatory rapid antigen tests at the airport facilities before any national from high covid risky countries can fly there. This test needs to be done four hours before their flights leave.
There is no arrangement for rapid antigen tests in Bangladeshi airports thus the mariners are failing to sign on to vessels from any European countries, according to Rahman, who demanded a quick arrangement of rapid antigen tests at airports to facilitate the jobs of mariners abroad.
Source : Container News
