Apparent suicide puts crisis impact on mariners in painful perspective
A civil service mariner's recent death by apparent suicide has brought the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. seagoing labor force into painful new perspective.
According to a Navy Times report, the Third Officer on the Military Sealift Command vessel USNS Amelia Earhart died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on July 22. Navy Times cited a U.S. Navy source that confirmed the tragic incident. MSC acknowledged the death but did not comment on the specific cause.
In a July 29 letter to MSC Commander Rear Admiral Michael Wettlaufer, the presidents of the three unions representing civil service mariners cited "ongoing and increasingly grave concerns" over the mental health of mariners during the pandemic.
In this letter, Seafarers International Union President Michael Sacco, Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association President Marshall Ainley and International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots President Don Marcus urged MSC to reassess its "gangways up" orders, which confine mariners to their ships - including vessels operated by the private sector under MSC contract - to contain the spread of coronavirus. The first "gangway up" order went into effect March 21.
These "gangway up" orders and other restrictions do not apply to contractors or vendors boarding MSC ships.
"There is growing anger, frustration and despair throughout the fleet," the union presidents warned. "People have a breaking point, and many of these crewmembers are nearing it."
Commenting on the specific case of apparent suicide, the union presidents said: "The actual cause of the mariner's actions may never be known. However, the ongoing and selective 'gangways up' restrictions may have, in some part, contributed to this unnecessary and senseless act.
"We are genuinely worried that if restrictions are not eased, the likelihood of shipboard emotional instability will increase," the union presidents continued. "Further, the stress-related fatigue caused by the 'gangways up' restrictions could lead to safety and mission degradation and operational mishaps."
Sacco, Ainley and Marcus said the "disparate" nature of "gangways-up" and "the continuing crisis of overdue reliefs" foreshadow "potentially worse disasters waiting to happen on MSC vessels all over the world - waiting in excess of 90 days for relief in some cases is contributing to the escalating anxiety and tensions aboard ships."
Strict restrictions imposed on MSC mariners are "taking a terrible toll on the families of these mariners as well," the union presidents said.
The SIU, MEBA and MM&P concluded: "We acknowledge and applaud the fortitude of the 'CIVMARS', and we know you share our concern for their health and safety. But, right now, they are in dire need of your direct intervention and assistance. We are asking you to reevaluate the 'gangways up' order and adopt a more appropriate and reasonable leave and liberty policy."
American Maritime Officers has no contracts covering civil service mariners in the Military Sealift Command fleet, but our union does represent private sector mariners working aboard ships managed and operated for MSC under government contracts and subject to "gangway up" orders and other restrictions on crew movement and social contact.
We share the concerns expressed by Mike Sacco, Marshall Ainley and Don Marcus in their letter to MSC, and we extend our sympathy and support to the family and friends of the ship's officer at the heart of this tragic matter.
In a related development, the International Transport Workers' Federation July 17 reported an estimated 300,000 merchant mariners stranded at sea worldwide in the crew change crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We have worked together with our partners to find practical solutions and propose these to governments," said SIU Secretary-Treasurer Dave Heindel, chairman of the ITF's Seafarers' Section.
"We commend the governments which have brought in options for seafarers to disembark and be relieved by fresh crew, such as visas on arrival and visa waivers, but the sad fact is that, globally, governments aren't doing near what is needed, and some governments have even gone backwards," Heindel said.
"It is not acceptable that some countries have withdrawn shore leave for seafarers or began restricting the number of people allowed to enter their borders each day. Those countries that rely on maritime trade, like Australia and Russia, must start pulling their weight on this issue," Heindel added.
AMO participates in the International Transport Workers' Federation, or ITF, through its Seafarers' Section. AMO Government Relations Vice President Chris Spain represents AMO in ITF meetings.
Paul Doell
August 4, 2020