Maersk calls for action as stranded seafarer roll call hits 400,000

© Denys Yelmanov

Major companies are now getting involved in the seafarer crisis. Maersk, Unilever and Procter & Gamble, among others, have called for a solution to the crisis which has led to some 400,000 seafarers stuck on ships – some for as long as 17 months. The UN is urging governments to designate them as key workers to facilitate their movement through borders and ports. Another 400,000 are waiting on shore to relieve them – with little or no pay. Some governments, such as Australia and France, have taken action, according to Bloomberg, but not enough have done so yet. And, as Unliever’s chief warned: “When the ships stop, so does everything else.” If you can’t reach Bloomberg, try Splash 247.