News Update – 21st to 28th April

Unions to DP World: call time on costly P&O mess, sack Hebblethwaite | ITF Seafarers – 21st April

Union leaders from across the globe have descended on the London offices of the Dubai-based owner of P&O Ferries, DP World. More than 50 leaders from transport unions assembled to condemn the company’s treatment of the P&O Ferries’ workers, and to urge DP World to start living up to its own values.

https://www.itfseafarers.org/en/news/unions-dp-world-call-time-costly-po-mess-sack-hebblethwaite

Cyprus fast-tracks bank accounts for seafarers | Financial Mirror – 22nd April
As port sanctions were implemented on Russian vessels in the EU, Cyprus offers some hope of normalcy to Ukrainian and Russian seafarers who might have seen their bank accounts frozen.

https://www.financialmirror.com/2022/04/22/cyprus-fast-tracks-bank-accounts-for-seafarers/

Japan’s Coast Guard Intensifies Search For Missing Tour Boat | G Captain – 24th April

Ten people found so far from a Japanese tour boat missing off the country’s northern coast have been confirmed dead, the coast guard said on Sunday.

https://gcaptain.com/japans-coast-guard-search-missing-boat/

Bahri confirms death of seafarer in Netherlands tanker incident | Seatrade Maritime News – 25th April

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia, Bahri, has confirmed the death of one crew member and the serious injury to another in an incident on board chemical tanker NCC SAFA.

https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/casualty/bahri-confirms-death-seafarer-netherlands-tanker-incident

PH now has 9 active crew change hubs for seafarers | Philippine News Agency – 25th April

MANILA – Pursuant to the order given by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade to establish more crew change hubs across the country, three more centers became operational in the ports of Zamboanga, Iloilo and in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172917

P&O Ferries forced to reverse attempt at pay cut | BBC – 25th April

P&O Ferries has been forced to reverse an attempt to pay its new, cheaper agency workers even less money. It comes after the RMT Union received reports of agency workers at Dover being asked to sign new contracts replacing their old ones on lower pay.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61209894

Second port worker death reinforces need for inquiry – unions | RNZ – 26th April

The death of a Lyttelton port worker is further evidence of the need for an urgent inquiry into port safety, unions say.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/465885/second-port-worker-death-reinforces-need-for-inquiry-unions

P&O ferry ‘adrift’ after losing power in Irish sea, with up to 410 passengers aboard | Independent – 26th April

P&O blames a ‘mechanical issue’ in the latest in a series of unfortunate events for the operator

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/p-o-ferry-adrift-irish-sea-b2065820.html

‘Too many killed on the job’: ITF mourns the transport workers who died at work for #IWMD2022 | ITF Seafarers – 27th April

Today we mark International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD). A day when we mourn for those who have been killed at work – taken from their friends, families and workmates too soon, often due to the unsafe practices that continue to see corners cut and workers sacrificed in far too many industries and workplaces.

https://www.itfseafarers.org/en/news/too-many-killed-job-itf-mourns-transport-workers-who-died-work-iwmd2022

Tunisia Detains Crew of Tanker That Sank Off Its Coast | G Captain – 27th April

A Tunisian judge detained seven crew members of a commercial ship that sank off the coast of the southern city of Gabes this month, a judicial official said on Wednesday, as authorities investigated whether the ship may have been deliberately sunk.

https://gcaptain.com/tunisia-detains-crew-of-tanker-that-sank-off-its-coast/

Seafarers’ unions remember Hadisur Rahman, killed in Russia-Ukraine crossfire | ITF Seafarers – 28th April

Today we mark International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD). A day when we mourn for those who have been killed at work – taken from their friends, families and workmates too soon.

https://www.itfseafarers.org/en/news/seafarers-unions-remember-hadisur-rahman-killed-russia-ukraine-crossfire

Rebekah Attard | Maritime Assistant

Inspectorate Coordination

International Transport Workers’ Federation

ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London, SE1 1DR

Direct Line: 0207 940 9103

www.itfglobal.org | www.itfseafarers.org

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