UN implores nations to find ways to bring 300,000 stranded mariners home

The United Nations chief on Thursday implored countries to cooperate in repatriating 300,000 stranded mariners who have been stuck at sea throughout the pandemic, some of whom have not been home in a year or more. Working back-to-back 12-hour shifts, often without weekends, the merchant mariners are buckling under the strain — which could have a disastrous effect on the global supply chain, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday. Meanwhile, on land, the lack of ability to get onto the ships has stranded an equal number of mariners who would like to report for duty, Guterres said.