The future is almost as bleak as the present for Dexter Fernandes. Thirty-two, with eight dependents, the Chinchinim-resident earns his living for a little over half the year as part of the beverage operations on a cruise liner.
With this otherwise lucrative arm of the sailing profession in deep seas, over the Covid-19 pandemic, and expectations of a six-month hiatus at least, Dexter, home since end-2019, is finding that his skills in the food and beverages industry may not keep him afloat amidst Goa’s tourist-centric offerings either.
After all, all tourist-related activities depend on people having the money and time to take a holiday and that reality will dawn only after life and economies across the world stumble towards normalcy after lockdowns and restrictions are lifted.
In Agonda, Felipe Santos Fernandes too is not expecting his skills as a chief cook on a Merchant Navy vessel to translate into a temporary job back home. While his is a somewhat less bleak immediate future as this arm of the shipping business that facilitates the movement of goods and therefore running of economies is still sailing, how soon he will be back at work is unclear.
Apart from worldwide port restrictions, his ability to get medically certified for his next assignment, whenever it arrives, will depend on the company’s offices in Mumbai resuming operations. And Maharashtra’s rising number of novel coronavirus-positive cases isn’t helping.
“At the moment, we just need a helping hand,” says Dexter, “New schemes should be put in place for seafarers so it makes life easier till we get back to work when we pass this pandemic. We’re not asking the government for a dole, if it’s interest-free or the interest is low we can pay back the aid when we start working again.”
Explaining that there is a misconstrued sentiment in Goa that ‘shippies’ are rich, Arun Glen Lacerda, a captain on a Merchant Navy vessel, says that while earnings in this line of work are on the higher side, the period of work is shorter and no one is paid when they’re at home between contracts.
This means that loans, medical expenses of family, social commitments, and day-to-day living, often of the extended family as well, all come from that one salary.
Hurt at the sentiment being expressed in some quarters that seafarers don’t need financial assistance at this time, he points out that it’s these very same people who have sustained their own services or businesses, often at exorbitant prices, through seafarers’ patronage, that are today talking against them.
“Right now all that anyone not earning can spend on is food and we’ll be soon selling what we have and borrowing money if we don’t get financial assistance,” says a seaman.
“Support packages are required,” agrees Chirag Bahri, director of regions at the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN).
Expecting to be swamped with applications for assistance especially from seafarers from developing countries, this UK-headquartered non-profit has started crowd-funding while simultaneously encouraging governments and industry stakeholders to keep seafarers afloat through a plethora of welfare funds that exist.
The National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) recently launched its Corona Relief packages asking seafarers to get in touch with its 17 branch offices “in case you or your family need any assistance in this corona crisis including medical cases”.
Advising seafarers stuck on land to prioritize the use of their savings, especially as companies look at downsizing and cost-cutting, Bahri’s advice to qualified youngsters waiting to launch their sailing careers is to look at other earning options for now, garner experience and improve skills.
“Whatever you do, don’t go through agents who take money and promise to get you a job. This will only land you in deep trouble besides costing you a lot of money,” is his fervent appeal.
Frank Viegas, president of the Goa Seamen Association of India (GSAI), and a rating crew member in the Merchant Navy, says seafarers have to rethink their way of earning a living in the present scenario. “Set aside your ego, attitude, shame about jobs and look at how you can use Goa’s potential to earn your living. Don’t wait for readymade offerings. Our world exposure and experience means we have ideas. Tap into them. Now’s a time to survive not splurge,” says the father-of-three.
Lacerda urges a revival of Goa’s past agriculture-based barter system in villages. “If the whole village begins farming again, not only will we achieve self-sufficiency, we will be healthier.”
Dexter sums up the spirit helping seafarers through at this moment when he says simply, “Hang in there, we will get through this.”
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NUSI’s Corona Relief
* Over 20,000 retired, medically-unfit seafarers and widows of seafarers will receive an amount of Rs 3,000 directly in their bank accounts as per guidelines. No application required.
* All ranks of serving seafarers who have not sailed after 1st July, 2019, and who wish to get the benefit can make an application to NUSI by email only to nusi.corona.relief@gmail.com giving valid reasons as per enclosed format. NUSI will be pleased to provide financial assistance of Rs 5,000 as per guidelines. The last date of sign off will be verified from the INDOS number. The last date of receiving the fully completed application by email is strictly 20th April 2020. No application will be allowed after that. The application can be sent only by email with scanned copies to nusi.corona.relief@gmail.com. No postal application will be accepted.
