Feels like prison

Sailors around the world stuck on ships due to pandemic as few ports let crew disembark

Singapore doctor Charles Johnson (in red T-shirt), medical director and flight physician at Hope Medflight Asia, examining the crew of a fishing vessel in the outer port limits of Singapore. ST PHOTO: ZAIHAN MOHAMED
Filipino seamen on board a 22,000-tonne tanker. More than 400,000 seafarers around the world have had to remain on board their ships for about a year or longer because of the coronavirus pandemic. Singapore doctor Charles Johnson (in red T-shirt), me
Filipino seamen on board a 22,000-tonne tanker. More than 400,000 seafarers around the world have had to remain on board their ships for about a year or longer because of the coronavirus pandemic. PHOTO: CHRIS MOISES CANAVERAL FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
Filipino seamen on board a 22,000-tonne tanker. More than 400,000 seafarers around the world have had to remain on board their ships for about a year or longer because of the coronavirus pandemic. Singapore doctor Charles Johnson (in red T-shirt), me
Dr Johnson examining a member of a fishing vessel's crew. He certifies a ship's crew as medically fit and Covid-free before they are allowed to enter Singapore to take their flights home. ST PHOTO: ZAIHAN MOHAMED
Filipino seamen on board a 22,000-tonne tanker. More than 400,000 seafarers around the world have had to remain on board their ships for about a year or longer because of the coronavirus pandemic. Singapore doctor Charles Johnson (in red T-shirt), me
INDIAN SHIP CAPTAIN SUKH PAL
Raul Dancel  Philippines Correspondent In Manila and Zaihan Mohamed Yusof  In Singapore
Updated
Nov 15, 2020, 07:56 AM
Published
Nov 15, 2020, 05:00 AM
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Mr Chris Moises Canaveral, a third mate on board a 22,000-tonne tanker, has not stepped on land in 10 months. He expects to still be out at sea come Christmas and New Year.

He said he is used to it. He first set foot on a merchant ship 10 years ago, when he was 26. Since then, he has been home to celebrate Christmas with his family just four times. "It's hard, but we're seamen. We're used to isolation and solitude," he said.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on November 15, 2020, with the headline Feels like prison. Subscribe

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MCI (P) 066/10/2023. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2024 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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