Sign off story from lucky one, but every one is not so lucky
This is story of one of seafarer.
This is Chief officer sailing on tankers fleet. He was lucky enough to sign off from Paradip, Orissa during lockdown in may 2020.. wish to share my story with all of you especially seafarers .. he joined ship on Dec 2019 and contract was toll Mid May.. looking at global scenario of this pandemic He had lost any hopes of signing off and returning back anytime sooner and was mentally prepared to sail for few more months .but beleive me sailing beyond your contract especially at rank is difficult.. the job is very demanding..and requires more than 100 percent effort ..especially in this pandemic situation..where we have to work more to maintain social distancing onboard from visitors like authorities, Loading masters , surveyors .. When ship got the voyage to India .it was the time We thought this is the moment.. needy to get off the ship .. else will be stuck here for many months. Company took notice of this opportunity and swung into action..however they were very uncertain whether they will b able to make it happen.. imagine u r coming back to your own country and you are not welcome anymore.. can't blame anyone.. this is what Pandemic does to you and everyone.. Company anyhow started procedure for crew change , but not with 100 percent surity they will actually make it happen.. Ship was bound for Haldia, West bengal followed by Paradip, Orissa. reliever drove 1400 Km by road ..a non stop 1.5 day journey to Kolkota where he was put in quarantine location .. he cleared his COVID 19 test.. and then we all thought now we will be able to achieve Crew change in Haldia . But here comes the twist.. I was told still there is no clarity whether Haldia will allow crew change or not.. this was no less than a shock to me.. DG had released its circular on 22 April 2020 regarding SOP for crew change at Indian ports.. yet the Ports are not complying with that.. This was period of uncertainty .ship reached Haldia.. and stilll things were not clear.. had lost hope ..thought we will not make it..specially when ship was allready at berth and was leaving for Paradip same day.. this was the period of uncertainty for both of us.. Reliever drove all the way in this situation only to be stuck in quarantine location.. what of crew change does. Or succeed.. he would have to go back home and be put on home quarantine for 2 weeks minimum . As we were about to leave Haldia in next 6 hours ..suddenly there was a positive development .. we got the news.that Haldia has agreed only for sign on .. but wait what . That meant can't sign off.. was told He will get down in Paradip.. reliever will join here and we will sail parallel till Paradip.. but that also was not sure at that time.. Company took a chance anyway and assured me many people are working behind the curtains for this crew change .and told concentrate on my job onboard. And not get distracted .. ship sailed out of Haldia with 2 chief mates onboard hoping will get down in Paradip ..if not ship will sail out of Paradip to her destination China and will be put on basic wages for an uncertain period of time u till get sign off which seemed atleast 1.5 months away looking at current situation .. we reached Paradip..and still no clarity on my sign off yet . had lost hope.and thought will be sailing out with ship.. that moment was really depressing. My family was equally worried ..
And then suddenly get a call from Office...
Chief pack your bags ASAP .. your are going home chief.. carry all your documents and get ready . Agent will board the ship soon... You will disembark on arrival..
Agent came told me to get ready in 1.5 hours untill he completed his formalities .. was ready in 30 mins.. so much was the desperation to sign off..
Finally came the moment .. getting down the gaangway .. with anti COVID PPE on .. head to Toe covered. And at last managed to sign off at Paradip .. agent Took me to Hotel .. the quarantine location.. and here I am In the hotel .. finally off the ship..
Initially I thought no one cares about seafarers. .. we are on our own .. that was my thinking when we were in Haldia. Because there was so much uncertainty... But I think I was wrong.. so many people are working behind the curtains ..and some people do actually care about us the seafarers
This is Chief officer sailing on tankers fleet. He was lucky enough to sign off from Paradip, Orissa during lockdown in may 2020.. wish to share my story with all of you especially seafarers .. he joined ship on Dec 2019 and contract was toll Mid May.. looking at global scenario of this pandemic He had lost any hopes of signing off and returning back anytime sooner and was mentally prepared to sail for few more months .but beleive me sailing beyond your contract especially at rank is difficult.. the job is very demanding..and requires more than 100 percent effort ..especially in this pandemic situation..where we have to work more to maintain social distancing onboard from visitors like authorities, Loading masters , surveyors .. When ship got the voyage to India .it was the time We thought this is the moment.. needy to get off the ship .. else will be stuck here for many months. Company took notice of this opportunity and swung into action..however they were very uncertain whether they will b able to make it happen.. imagine u r coming back to your own country and you are not welcome anymore.. can't blame anyone.. this is what Pandemic does to you and everyone.. Company anyhow started procedure for crew change , but not with 100 percent surity they will actually make it happen.. Ship was bound for Haldia, West bengal followed by Paradip, Orissa. reliever drove 1400 Km by road ..a non stop 1.5 day journey to Kolkota where he was put in quarantine location .. he cleared his COVID 19 test.. and then we all thought now we will be able to achieve Crew change in Haldia . But here comes the twist.. I was told still there is no clarity whether Haldia will allow crew change or not.. this was no less than a shock to me.. DG had released its circular on 22 April 2020 regarding SOP for crew change at Indian ports.. yet the Ports are not complying with that.. This was period of uncertainty .ship reached Haldia.. and stilll things were not clear.. had lost hope ..thought we will not make it..specially when ship was allready at berth and was leaving for Paradip same day.. this was the period of uncertainty for both of us.. Reliever drove all the way in this situation only to be stuck in quarantine location.. what of crew change does. Or succeed.. he would have to go back home and be put on home quarantine for 2 weeks minimum . As we were about to leave Haldia in next 6 hours ..suddenly there was a positive development .. we got the news.that Haldia has agreed only for sign on .. but wait what . That meant can't sign off.. was told He will get down in Paradip.. reliever will join here and we will sail parallel till Paradip.. but that also was not sure at that time.. Company took a chance anyway and assured me many people are working behind the curtains for this crew change .and told concentrate on my job onboard. And not get distracted .. ship sailed out of Haldia with 2 chief mates onboard hoping will get down in Paradip ..if not ship will sail out of Paradip to her destination China and will be put on basic wages for an uncertain period of time u till get sign off which seemed atleast 1.5 months away looking at current situation .. we reached Paradip..and still no clarity on my sign off yet . had lost hope.and thought will be sailing out with ship.. that moment was really depressing. My family was equally worried ..
And then suddenly get a call from Office...
Chief pack your bags ASAP .. your are going home chief.. carry all your documents and get ready . Agent will board the ship soon... You will disembark on arrival..
Agent came told me to get ready in 1.5 hours untill he completed his formalities .. was ready in 30 mins.. so much was the desperation to sign off..
Finally came the moment .. getting down the gaangway .. with anti COVID PPE on .. head to Toe covered. And at last managed to sign off at Paradip .. agent Took me to Hotel .. the quarantine location.. and here I am In the hotel .. finally off the ship..
Initially I thought no one cares about seafarers. .. we are on our own .. that was my thinking when we were in Haldia. Because there was so much uncertainty... But I think I was wrong.. so many people are working behind the curtains ..and some people do actually care about us the seafarers
Comments
Post a Comment