In the context of the health crisis, shipowners have experienced major difficulties in honouring their obligations to repatriate seafarers, as State borders have been closed and international means of transport have been heavily impacted. This unprecedented situation raises many questions, the legal implications of which are of paramount importance for those involved in the maritime industry. What is the extent of a shipowner’s repatriation obligations? Should a repatriation be organised, whatever the cost? Could a shipowner be held liable? What happens to employment contracts that expire while seafarers are still on board?
Frédérique Heurtel, associate at Stream, and Anne-Cécile Bannier-Mathieu, founder of Argos Consulting, have analysed those various issues for Jeune Marine, and address them in an article devoted to the right to repatriation of seafarers
https://jeunemarine.fr/2020/04/le-droit-au-rapatriement-mis-a-mal-par-le-covid-19/
