Seafarer groups respond to Hanjin collapse

Irked about the fate of seafarers on the stranded ships on the sea, the Mission to Seafarers and the union Nautilus have raised concerns on the need to help mariners affected by the collapse of Hanjin Shipping.

Prior to filing for receivership, Hanjin operated about 100 vessels with roughly 2,500 embarked crew. At least 30 of those ships are now stranded at sea, according to the company.

Ports have denied entry to some for fear that Hanjin will be unable to pay fees; for others, the limiting concern is that the ships would be seized by creditors at the dock. In both cases these ships remain at sea, awaiting a solution. Other Hanjin ships remain stranded in port due to vessel arrests.

Mission to Seafarers spokesman Rev. Ken Peters, said: “If the ships continue to be blocked from entering port, there could be a welfare crisis for these seafarers, as vessels will quickly run out of food, fuel and essential provision.

“Seafarers will be very anxious and their families at home will be concerned and distressed. The Mission to Seafarers has now issued a global alert to all our 200 port welfare teams to be ready to assist Hanjin seafarers when they come into port,” Peters said.

Separately, maritime union Nautilus said it has been providing advice and assistance to four British cadets who have been stranded onboard one of Hanjin’s container ships, the Hanjin Louisiana.