It’s one thing to be locked down at home with our families, but another challenge entirely for the crews on our dredgers to manage getting back to families during lockdown. 

In the shipping press, and increasingly in the mainstream media, we are seeing reports of seafarers being trapped on board their vessels due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Some seafarers have now been on board their ships for over 12 months now, without seeing their families, and limited communications to keep in touch. Due to hard work and perseverance the CEMEX UK Marine team have been able to ensure that all of our crews have managed to get home safely to see loved ones.

We have maintained our crew change schedule as far as possible throughout the pandemic, and although there have been some delays to seafarer travel due to various Government restrictions, and a reduced number of flight options, we have been working hard to do what we can to get seafarers home to their families.  Members of our office based team have also worked tirelessly throughout this period to ensure that the right balance is maintained offshore.

Capt. Matt Bland, Fleet Safety and Development Master, commented: “As seafarers, we are used to problem solving, and as Ernest Shackleton, Master Mariner, said “Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all.”

This week we are pleased to be able to report that there are now no seafarers on board company vessels who are overdue going on leave.  The company appreciates the patience and cooperation of all our seafarers during this constantly evolving situation.”

Kurt Cowdry, Director CEMEX UK Marine, added: “We have constantly reinforced the need to keep doing the basics and doing them well, COVID-19 is only one thing that we need to manage.  The Masters and Senior Officers of each ship have been fantastic, offering solutions that have always been considered.

There have been some problems along the way but as a team we have held frequent and structured calls to discuss the following: people, ship reviews, crewing, furlough, ships alongside Falcon & Fulmar, market demand and engineering.

We put these calls together to ensure that we capture and maintain the right balance for our people throughout a period that originally was a step into the unknown for all of us. Through a great demonstration of teamwork, sticking together, thinking outside of the box and working in a different way, some of what we have learnt we will keep on developing.

We have also adapted to a number of different platforms: Microsoft teams, Zoom, Skype (some of us were already familiar) but others have embraced technology and more use of Yammer, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. They have been difficult times but a great learning experience.”