While seafarers play important roles in the sector, which is considered the lifeblood of world trade, they also draw attention to the various difficulties they face.
With the effects of the post-pandemic growth of the Cruise and Mega yacht sectors, it is expected that 1.5 million seafarers will be employed at sea in 2025.
Emphasizing that the difficulties caused by visa policies cause serious problems in personnel employment, Camelot Maritime General Manager Gürbüz Can said, “Removing the visa obstacles that Seafarers face during international travels for their participation on the ship and their return to the country will make a serious contribution to maritime and the economy.”
Problems have become a general situation
Gürbüz Can, who also serves as a Board Member and Vice President of the Turkish Maritime Federation (TÜRDEF), said:
“The problems faced by seafarers have become a general situation beyond individual incidents. Ship crew members who cannot be repatriated are sometimes forced to work on ships well beyond their contract periods. With the resumption of limited tourism activities in Europe in the summer of 2020, there have been some improvements in visa procedures for non-EU seafarers, but there are still major difficulties. “For most cruise passengers traveling to the EU Schengen Area, the limited capacity of consulates and complex application processes pose major obstacles.”
Sustainability of international ship operations
“Thanks to the effective lobbies of non-governmental organizations in the maritime sector, forward-thinking policies are being developed to minimize the visa problems of seafarers. As a maritime country, the UK’s offer of travel opportunities to sailors who will join the ship in British ports with the ‘ok to board’ letter without requiring a visa for sailors is an important example in managing the personnel change crisis in the sector. These policies help alleviate the challenges facing the sector by facilitating the onboarding and repatriation of Seafarers. Forward-thinking policies to reduce visa problems in ship operators are considered an important step in the maritime industry. “Effective lobbying by non-governmental organizations plays an important role in making seafarers’ international ship operations sustainable.”
“Evidence is needed to combat visa problems”
“Problems with intermediary institutions during visa applications in Schengen countries have been documented by industry representatives. Reports based on accurate and detailed information on this subject need to be submitted to ministries, existing legal regulations must be improved, and the necessary obligations must be established for a more fair and effective visa process. “The inability of companies to protect their rights within the framework of current legal regulations creates difficulties in the visa procedures of seafarers.”
Call for green passport and visa convenience
“While 1 million amateur sailors have been trained within the scope of the Sailor Country, Sailor Nation campaign, we have still not been able to eliminate the international travel problem for our professional sailors. We are ready to support all relevant NGOs to solve this problem. I do not find it right and do not support the request for Green Passport only for people at one level of the sector. Green Passport can be provided to seafarers who document 3 years of sea service and service in maritime companies in the last five years. An agreement can be made with the relevant states to provide visa convenience to seafarers who have documented 3 years of sea service in the last five years and to ship management officials who have documented their service in maritime companies. Apart from these, the procedures and visa convenience applied to international flight personnel when traveling to foreign countries can be examined and the same practices can be provided to seafarers.”
We have rare gems
“I would like to state that everyone who will play a role in the solution of this national issue will have a significant contribution to the country’s maritime and economy. Türkiye has come a long way in the tourism sector and in training tourism personnel. Tourism hotel management, culinary school graduates and experienced tourism personnel working in our hotels are a rare gem for the Cruise and Mega Yacht industry. Overcoming travel problems means we can employ more ship people.”
“We must remove the obstacles for Turkish sailors”
“Ship People create a serious foreign currency inflow potential for the country. Filipino seafarers provide their country with over 10 billion dollars of foreign currency inflow annually. We need to address this problem as a national issue that will contribute to the development of maritime and economy. Every year, 1,100 long-distance officers, who are employed in the deck and engine departments, receive their licenses and start professional life. Therefore, I do not believe that the removal of travel restrictions will cause employment-related harm to Turkish shipowners and operators. On the contrary, removing travel barriers will also contribute to solving the internship problem of students graduating from schools. In order for us to be able to say that there is International Maritime, we must pave the way for our seafarers so that they can offer their experiences and innovations as more added value to our country. “I invite all NGOs to come together to produce solution suggestions on the issue.”