ITF aiding the repatriation of crew on 6 Global Cruise Lines' ships

   July 3, 2020 ,   Cruise Industry

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) announced that it is aiding the repatriation of crew who are currently on 6 Global Cruise Lines' ships.

The vessels are currently docked at Tilbury London and Bristol Avonmouth in the United Kingdom.

The ITF and Global Cruise Lines came to an agreement to ensure that the crew members are repatriated in the next few days.

Cruise and Maritime Voyages/CMV ships Astoria, Astor, Columbus, and Vasco de Gama are at Tillbury London UK, while Marco Polo is docked at Bristol.

In June, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced it had detained 5 ships over crew welfare concerns.

The seafarers were stuck on the vessels because of the ongoing global pandemic, which resulted in travel restrictions to limit the spread of the new virus.

The MCA surveyors discovered a lot of expired and invalid Seafarer's Employment Agreements, late payment of wages, and crew who were onboard for more than 12 months.