India is a big contributor to the world’s seafaring community. 240,000 Indians are employed on ships across the world — the third largest globally. But the Delta variant of COVID-19 has disproportionately affected seafarers of all nationalities. There are about 100,000 seafarers stranded at sea — many of them Indians — beyond their regular stints of typically 3-9 months, according to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). Many have been even without a day’s break on land. Another 100,000 are stuck on shore, unable to board the ships they need to earn a living on, data shows. Just 2.5% of seafarers – one in every 40 – have been vaccinated, the ICS estimates.
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