Press release: MLC abandonment provisions coming into force: ITF comment

Please find this press release attached and below, with illustration.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

 

 

17 January 2017

MLC abandonment provisions coming into force: ITF comment

The ITF (International Transport Workers is giving a warm welcome to the major new Maritime Labour Convention provisions on crew abandonment that come into force tomorrow.

 

ITF president Paddy Crumlin said: "From tomorrow the mechanisms will be in place for a huge change that will finally treat the running sore of crew abandonment. At last the fundamental idea that those who send seafarers to sea have a responsibility for them is enshrined in regulation."

 

He continued: "This provision has been a long time coming, and, just as with the MLC itself, the ITF is proud to have been involved since its conception, working alongside the ILO, governments and shipping organisations."

 

ITF general secretary Steve Cotton commented: "These new provisions are deeply significant, and a worthy addition to the hugely significant MLC itself. All parties must now work together to ensure that they are put into action, and address those areas in the world where there's an absence of MLC ratification."

 

He concluded: "It's important that seafarers understand what the changes mean. We recommend that they check that there is a valid insurance certificate on board and realise that if abandonment does occur that they must raise the alarm right away. To help spread this message we've set up dedicated web pages in multiple languages www.itfseafarers-abandonment.org, and we are making available simple A4 instruction posters for use in missions and on ships."

 

ENDS

 

Note to editors

The text for the new web pages is as follows. Attached is a sample of the leaflet, which is being made available in 11 languages.

 

Calling all seafarers!

On 18 January important new rules come into force on abandonment.

Here's what you need to know:

Under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) ship owners must have insurance to assist the seafarers on board vessels if they are abandoned.

All ships, to which the convention applies, whose flag states have ratified the MLC must have the insurance certificate on board and on show in English. (You can check who has ratified at http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/maritime-labour-convention/database-ratification-implementation/lang--en/index.htm)

Here's what you need to do:

If you think that you are in danger of abandonment, don't wait. If your ship owner doesn't respond, contact the insurance company.

Abandonment occurs when the ship owner:

·       fails to cover the cost of the seafarer's repatriation; or

·       has left the seafarer without the necessary maintenance and support; or

·       has otherwise unilaterally severed their ties with the seafarer including failure to pay contractual wages for a period of at least two months'

The insurance will cover you for up to four months outstanding wages and entitlements in line with your employment agreement or CBA – So don't leave it too late! If you wait six months to apply, you'll only get four months backpay.

 

The insurance must also cover reasonable expenses such as repatriation, food, clothing where necessary, accommodation, drinking water, essential fuel for survival on board and any necessary medical care. It will apply from the moment of abandonment to the time of arrival back home.

 

Insurers the International Group of P&I clubs have set up 24 hour emergency helplines. The details will be on that insurance certificate that must be publicly visible. Check it now. If you think it isn't real or you feel you are in danger of being abandoned use the helpline number now.

 

IG of P&I Clubs:

·       The Swedish Club http://www.swedishclub.com/

·       UK P&I Club http://www.epandi.com/

·       Skuld http://www.skuld.com/

·       Britannia http://www.britanniapandi.com/

·       Steamship Mutual http://www.steamshipmutual.com/

·       Gard http://www.gard.no/

·       The London P&I Club http://www.londonpandi.com/

·       West of England http://www.westpandi.com/

·       North http://www.nepia.com/

·       Ship owners http://www.shipownersclub.com/

·       The Standard http://www.standard-club.com/

·       The American Club http://www.american-club.com/

·       The Japan Ship Owners' Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association  https://www.piclub.or.jp/

 

 

 

                                                                                       

ITF communications: getting the message out - when and where it matters

www.itfglobal.org 

www.facebook.com/ITFglobal 

Twitter: @itfglobalunion

This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender and then delete it immediately. You should not copy it or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person. Any views or opinions expressed within the email are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the ITF or the Seafarers' Trust.

Press release: Stranded crew case 'a human disgrace¹

Please find this release attached and below.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

 

 

16 January 2017

Stranded crew case 'a human disgrace'

An ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) inspector has issued a last ditch call to a ship owner and its flag state to act to stop the suffering of a 17-strong crew abandoned in Algeria.

 

ITF inspector Mohamed Arrachedi has raised the alarm over the case of the Panama-flagged, Turkish-owned Seahonest (IMO 9142100) whose crew has been stranded unpaid and unprovisioned in the Port of Algiers for seven months.

 

Mohamed Arrachedi explained the urgency of his appeal: "The crew are on the brink. I believe there's a real risk of suicide – that's how desperate they are. The company has washed its hands of them, yet continues to operate other vessels. It's a human disgrace, I believe they are happy to see the men reach breaking point in the hope that they will leave without a cent of what they're owed.

 

"Either the company or the flag state has to act. The only reason the crew hasn't starved is because of the food and humanitarian assistance provided by the ITF, Algerian trade unions, the port authority of Algiers Port and the embassies of India and Turkey."

 

In a letter to the Panama Maritime Authority and the ship's owner, Seyfullah Dalgin of Vera Denizcilik Ithalat ve Ihracat Tic Ltd, Sti Ismail pasa sok No:77, 34718 Kosuyolu, Kadikoy - Istanbul (www.verashipping.com), Mr Arrachedi wrote:

 

It is with maximum concern and worry, that, once more, we are contacting you Mr Seyfullah, to ask you for a quick, complete plan to come to a solution to the situation of the seafarers on board of the Seahonest in the Port of Algiers.

 

Sincerely, under all scopes and perspectives, not only from a legal or regulatory status, and/or a  human perspective, it is absolutely unacceptable and non-understandable, that until now, and after more than six months on board, there is absolutely no plan, no programme to find a solution to the situation of the 17 crew on board (2 Turkish and 15 Indian nationals).

 

The crew on board are suffering the very bad conditions on board, the cold and very heavy psychological conditions. The absence of a plan, and the absence of fulfillment of the promises from your side, makes the situation on board at the limit of what any human being can to support. We have asked the company to arrange repatriation. This has been promised many times.

 

What is the real intention of the company? What is the company waiting for to start acting? Is the company's plan to wait till the crew get more desperate and then accede to repatriation?

 

The crew capacity to support more is at its limit. Please act and act quickly. The crew are looking forward to getting paid and repatriated. Your company can put other crew on board, and stop the suffering of those on board. It is your responsibility to do so.

 

On Saturday one of the crew members sent the following SMS to Mohamed Arrachedi: "Is there any news or updates for us? Everybody are very tense, mentally tired and desperate to go home and anxious to know when and how our problem will be solved"

 

ENDS

 

Attachments

Photo of crew members and crew receiving provisions supplied by the ITF

ITF communications: getting the message out - when and where it matters

www.itfglobal.org 

www.facebook.com/ITFglobal 

Twitter: @itfglobalunion

This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender and then delete it immediately. You should not copy it or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person. Any views or opinions expressed within the email are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the ITF or the Seafarers' Trust.

Press release: ITF applauds Canadian maritime workers' action day

Please find this press release attached and below.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

 

 

12 January 2017

ITF applauds Canadian maritime workers' action day

ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) leaders have spoken out in support of mass union actions later today in Canada to protect maritime workers' jobs and skills.

 

Workers and concerned citizens will be rallying in Montreal, Toronto, Prince Rupert, Victoria and Vancouver in defence of maritime cabotage, which helps safeguard jobs in national trade. Despite its proven advantages and union victories to uphold it (see https://goo.gl/J5Z4EE), the principle is under Canadian government attack.

 

ITF president Paddy Crumlin applauded the initiative: "Cabotage is a no-brainer. Its merits are obvious. To attempt to roll it back in a country like Canada where it has been proved to be so valuable is baffling. It defies logic. Thankfully the nation's maritime workers and their unions understand what a seemingly remote political class does not – the need to fight for what is right and what is worth saving."

 

ITF general secretary Steve Cotton added: "We're glad to see the ITF standing as part of this important national initiative that seeks to keep Canada strong, skilled and employed.

 

"Cabotage protects jobs, coastal communities and even national security, all concepts that Canadians understand and support. Today's rallies prove this."

 

For more about today's events see this post from ITF Canada: https://goo.gl/GyFJKE. For details of how cabotage laws protect skills see http://goo.gl/hzqkgE

 

 

ENDS

 

                                                                                       

ITF communications: getting the message out - when and where it matters

www.itfglobal.org 

www.facebook.com/ITFglobal 

Twitter: @itfglobalunion

This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender and then delete it immediately. You should not copy it or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person. Any views or opinions expressed within the email are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the ITF or the Seafarers' Trust.