![Image:Setting up an airlift to fly seafarers home from various designated countries, could be a 'good first step' in solving the problems [with crew changes], says Nautilus Dutch official Marcel van den Broek (picutured).](/globalassets/news-by-topic/netherlands/marcel_van_den_broek_news.jpg "Setting up an airlift to fly seafarers home from various designated countries, could be a 'good first step' in solving the problems [with crew changes], says Nautilus Dutch official Marcel van den Broek (picutured).")
Seafarers who are unable to get off their ships due to coronavirus should be airlifted home, says Nautilus deputy general secretary Marcel van den Broek.
'Setting up an airlift to fly seafarers home from various designated countries, could be a good first step in solving the problems [with crew changes],' Mr van den Broek told Dutch radio BNR Nieuwsradio on Tuesday 29 April.
'In any case, what must now be done quickly worldwide is to also consider maritime shipping as a vital sector for our economy. It is not without reason that more than 90% of everything we use is transported by sea.From raw materials and semi-finished products to everything that is for sale in all our stores. '
Many thousands of Nautilus International members should have been relieved a long time ago, but this had been virtually impossible due to the many country restrictions to combat Covid-19 pandemic, including travel restrictions. The Union has argued for collective crew changes at designated ports are needed to relieve 100,000 'fatigued' seafarers.
Managing director of the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR), Annet Koster suggested that Dutch airline KLM.'could play an important role in this, with Amsterdam as home base.'
Nautilus has strongly urged governments and many relevant international bodies to designate maritime shipping as a vital sector, and seafarers as keyworkers, and to facilitate crew changes at designated ports.
A shipping alliance representing more than 1,500 vessels and 70,000 seafarers has also supported a European Commission proposal for designated fast track ports for collective crew changes should be rolled out globally.
Tags
More articles
Nautilus FAQs on Covid-19 Coronavirus
Collective crew changes at designated ports needed to relieve 100,000 'fatigued' seafarers, says Union
Nautilus is supporting calls for collective crew changes at designated ports, which it says are urgently needed to relieve tired Merchant Navy seafarers enabling world trade during the coronavirus pandemic.
A son's story of a father stranded onboard a vital ship in the global supply chain
Like many Nautilus International members, containership chief officer Chris Kuiken should have been relieved from his ship with a crew change a long time ago.
Ruby Princess crew repatriated as cruise ship heads to Manila
The cruise ship at the heart of a criminal investigation over coronavirus deaths departed Australian waters on 23 April headed for Manila.
Masters honk their horns for 'Heroes at Sea'
Ships' masters around the world celebrated May Day in support of 'heroes at sea' highlighting seafarers' vital role in the global supply chain.
Leave no-one behind: Fairness flagged for transport and other key workers
The coronavirus pandemic is a chance 'not to be squandered', to build a fairer transport industry as Europe recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, European unions and progress politicians said.
Seafarers – our keyworker beacons in a global emergency
ITF demands global rights for transport workers during Covid-19 pandemic
Nautilus has welcomed a move by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) to ensure that transport workers' rights around the world are upheld during the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.