Seafarers - amidst COVID 19

MrsB311

With a lot of emphasis (rightly so) on key workers such as NHS staff and many of our citizens who work in delivery, shops and caring roles I just wanted to raise the question of the impact of COVID 19 on sea farers or people who are abroad through work rather than vacation. Which has not been touched on? 

My husband is a chief engineer on a private motor yacht currently in the Indian Ocean (it was due to be travelling back to Europe for the busy summer Mediterranean season). He like many of his crew work a 2 on/off rotation and he will be due home in 2 weeks. They are in a position that this is not doable - the airports/ports are closed and he cannot fly home, nor can his opposite number fly in to take over. There has been no clarity on what happens to flights for workers all over the world who could be in this situation? Will flights be available? How will he be treat if he gets back to the U.K.? Will he be tested? 

There is talk about holidaymakers who are stranded (many who chose to go knowing that COVID 19 was becoming a reality) and talks have begun about getting those people home. Likewise for any stranded medical staff who could be back in the U.K on the front line. 

How do sea farers get back to sea if there are still airport closures/ no flights available? Sea farers are now eligible to pay tax as they usually remain out the country for so long but if they are genuinely stranded in the UK awaiting a joining date on a vessel will they suffer a huge tax bill as a result?

Currently, my husband stands to receive pay for the time he has worked and one additional month’s pay as per Maritime Law for up to one month should he go beyond his leave period. But that is all, if we are on lockdown for a lengthy period we cannot as a family of 4 children afford to ride this storm. Is there any obligation from the employer to compensate him? Or obligation to send him home given what is going on?

My husbands employers seem keen to help the crew but genuinely don’t know the answers. They are trying to move from the Maldives where the weather will be worsening to other ports but with little success due to lockdowns of individual places. They can’t get into other ports due to restrictions. 

I would be really interested in asking about sea farers/ rig workers/ expat workers in general etc to see how COVID 19 and its fallout will affect them as nobody seems to have touched on it?

Westin

Interesting prospective on another area impacted by the virus and travel restrictions. Thank you for posting a different and interesting view on the issues faced by working sea farers.

I am afraid I have no answers for you.  Is there perhaps an Association or even a Union which covers sea farers which might have a website, chat forum or information? 

yorkiechick

As it stands there has been no official word from HMRC regarding seafarers and their SED claims. Staying home for longer than normal doesn't necessarily mean an ongoing SED claim will break, it depends on a number of factors such as length of time the claim has been running and the number of days in hand a person has. One factor that will automatically break a claim is spending more than 183 days in the UK at one time, in which case a new claim would need to be started once a person is back to their normal rota at sea. 
Income earned up to the point of the claim breaking may still be covered by their previous claim, so again, it's not a given that all seafarers will be facing tax bills, but it is a possibility.
Everything is so uncertain right now, if anything is announced I'm sure the information would be on the Gov. website