Mick Lynch, RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary, said:

“As ever, we take time to remember the sacrifice of merchant navy seafarers of the past as part of the annual Merchant Navy Day celebrations.

“But this year, those celebrations are muted by the Coronavirus’ devastating impact on merchant seafarers from Southampton to Singapore who continue to slog their guts out to keep medical supplies, food, passengers and trade flowing.

“The pandemic has shredded the health and rights of hundreds of thousands of seafarers and we must reform the global shipping industry to outlaw employers’ callous disregard for seafarers, starting with all those sailing under the Red Ensign.”