Are more than 200,000 cargo ship crew still at sea past legal limits because of the pandemic?
As of July 2020, the International Maritime Organization estimates that "at least 200,000 seafarers require immediate repatriation, with many more serving on extended crew contracts who are overdue to return home."
Crew members can serve a maximum of 12 months on board before they're entitled to be repatriated, or sent home, according to international maritime law established by the Maritime Labor Convention. Canceled flights, closed borders and travel restrictions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic have made it more difficult to adhere to those rules.
In the event of a confirmed COVID-19 case on a non-cruise ship, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that the crew quarantine for 14 days, which could also impact seafarers’ ability to return home if their journey involves a U.S. port.
