Thousands of seafarers remain trapped at sea, on containerships and other cargo vessels, by coronavirus travel restrictions – a threat to supply chains, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has warned.
According to the Chamber, the number of seafarers in need of a crew change will reach 150,000 by 15 May.
This is a 50% increase since March, when the ICS first raised the issue with the UN, highlighting the impact government lockdowns and travel restrictions were having on an industry requiring some 100,000 crew changes every month.