In Covid-19 pandemic, when there was a lock-down, on one hand, people on streets were wearing masks, trying to hoard items in their homes and so forth. On the other hand, the seafarers, the keyworkers were working 24x7 to keep the world economy moving. This scenario was unfolding when trade wars are going around the world and many economies are decoupling from each other creating more problems for seafarers as many ships are stuck at many ports around the world.

Many shipping centres around the world were too late in looking after the seafarers and many were interested in protecting their domestic populace. Now 7-8 months later, people around the world are talking about seafarers, though it is a good sign, but it is not enough. Many companies made seafarers work on the ship for months without relieving them or it took months for many seafarers to reach their better-halves. However, still seafarers were not part of thinking of decision makers. Like hospital workers and doctors were awarded, I request that seafarers around the world in every economy are rewarded for their heroism and sacrifice for humanity during pandemic. When I say awards, I do not mean a few awards in Oscar-awards like ceremonies for a few captains or chief engineers or ship mangers from shore offices. I mean proper welfare and awards for cooks, able seamen, fitters and so forth, who have sacrificed a way more, when they were already on meagre salaries.