OFWs remain onboard a ship adrift off Germany amid COVID-19 pandemic

About 500 crew members of a ship, composed mostly of Filipinos, are stranded off the coast of Germany for over two months now, according to a 24 Oras report by Oscar Oida on Wednesday.

The ship remains adrift after European countries denied a request to dock due to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The crew members were left onboard after the passengers were allowed to disembark last March 15, 2020.

“Nu’ng pumutok nga ‘tong COVID, hindi na pumayag ‘yung mga lugar dito sa Europe na mag-dock kami. Maraming lugar kaming sinubukang puntahan, ‘di kami tinanggap… HIndi rin kami pinayagan so ang nangyari, nakalutang lang kami sa dagat,” said Joel Paguntalan, one of the Filipinos aboard the ship.

He said the crew members support each other by planning activities to keep boredom at bay while stranded on the ship.

Their captain announced in April that the crew would be allowed to go home, but it turned out that only Europeans would be permitted to leave the ship.

“Ang Asians, for the obvious reasons, kasi kami mas malayo ‘yung uuwian namin,” Paguntalan said.

They were elated that co-workers would finally make it to their respective homes. However, the rest of the crew members also felt sad because their fate remains uncertain.

They have to remain on the ship until they are allowed to go home.

Paguntalan assured they are in good health and they have enough food, exercise.

“Okay naman kami dito, kumpleto. ‘Yung kalaban lang naman namin dito is ‘yung uncertainty kung kailan kami makakauwi,” he added.

He said the crew members left onboard are safe and the risk of getting infected with COVID-19 is minimal.

He adds that the messages and prayer of friends and family also sustain him as he spends time away from them.

Paguntalan has a message for his family, "To my family, stay strong and healthy. Joy, to my wife, and Isaac. Konting tiis na lang makakauwi na rin si Daddy. Love you."

He estimated that out of the 1,000 crew members, only 500 are still onboard, most of whom are Filipinos. -- Julia Mari Ornedo/BAP, GMA News