28th November 2005
Industry standing up for seafarers
Criminalisation
The International Shipping Federation (ISF), along with other industry
organisations and the International Transport Workers’ Federation, has
encouraged governments at IMO to take a serious look at how seafarers are
treated following a maritime accident.
ISF was very concerned at the recent treatment by authorities of the Masters
and crew in a number of high profile pollution incidents, such as the Prestige
in Spain and the Tasmin Spirit in Pakistan.
ISF members fear that there is a growing criminalisation of seafarers by which
criminal liability is attached to simple, unfortunate accidents where the
seafarer has no intention of causing any harm. This is completely different to a
situation where someone has deliberately caused damage and pollution, which
is already criminal under MARPOL.
A lot of support was given by governments at IMO to the industry concerns,
and a special IMO/ILO Joint Working Group on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers
in the event of a Maritime Accident has been established. The Group has been
given high priority by the Secretaries-General and will meet from 17-19 January
2005 to begin developing guidelines on how states should treat seafarers in
these situations.
Shore leave
ISF has also been involved in a campaign to alleviate difficulties faced by
seafarers taking shore leave. On World Maritime Day (30 September 2004)
ISF joined ITF and other organisations to raise awareness of the denial of shore
leave. ISF presented letters to the US Secretary of State and the Secretaries-
General of IMO and ILO, and petitions were handed in by members around the
world to their respective US embassies and consulates.
Free movement
ISF has been concerned at the difficulties in obtaining visas and the
abandonment of the crew list visa system in the US, which has caused problems
for seafarers trying to get to a ship or go on leave.
ISF is therefore urging states to ratify the new ILO Convention 185 on seafarers’
identity documents, as this has been designed to facilitate seafarers’ movement
and avoid the need for visa applications.
ISF has also been working with the European Commission to find mechanisms
to ease travel for seafarers in the Schengen area.
By Mr. Richard Guy - ISF
News courtesy of ICSW
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