Nautilus affiliate seafaring union the Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS) is helping provide a seafarer relief package (SRP) for members adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
SOS is the latest seafarer union collaborating with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) to provide the relief package to assist its Singaporean members.
Seafarers' livelihoods globally are adversely affected by border control measures and crew change restrictions which are implemented to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The SRP provides support of $800 per month to eligible Singaporean seafarers who are unable to secure shipboard employment between 1 May 2020 and 31 July 2020.
SOS president Kam Soon Huat said: 'Seafarers are in a vulnerable position in this Covid-19 pandemic. Their livelihoods are adversely affected by border control measures and crew change restrictions. As a union that represents seamen, we understand the hardship that they face.
'We are working with MPA to offer financial assistance, in the form of this relief package, to our Singaporean seafarers and their families for them to get by.'
The SRP is part of the MPA's MaritimeSG Together Package set up during the Covid-19 outbreak.
SOS has also delivered 650 care packs containing surgical masks, hand sanitisers, anti-bacterial hand wash, and anti-bacterial hand wipes to its members based in Singapore.
- Read the full SOS press release
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