News / Philippines opens the way home for stranded seafarers, but needs global help

IPhoto: © Denys Yelmanov | Dreamstime.com

The Philippines today opened the first green lane to allow seafarers to travel unhindered across its borders, as measures to relieve the hundreds of thousands of trapped vessel crew members were stepped up.

The country is the largest supplier of seafarers to the shipping industry and the programme is designed to “ensure that seafarers are accorded speedy and safe travel, subject to health protocols mandated by the Philippine government, including safe and swift disembarkation and crew change.

“This also intends to prevent ...