News Update – 8th to 14th July
Victory for seafarers’ safety as Dutch court sides with unions on container lashing | ITF Seafarers – 8th July
Unions have secured an important victory in the campaign for seafarers’ safety this week as a Dutch court has ruled that ship managers, ship owners and charterers must honour a clause that prevents seafarers from being assigned dangerous lashing work where professional dock workers are available.
Maersk Quits The International Chamber of Shipping | G Captain – 8th July
Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping groups, has been part of ICS’s board for around a decade, but Maersk executive and board member Henriette Hallberg Thygesen has stepped down after an annual revision of trade association memberships.
https://gcaptain.com/maersk-quits-ics-international-chamber-of-shipping/
All ashore: Vatican defends right of seafarers to shore leave | Crux – 10th July
While governments and shipping companies had reason to cancel seafarers’ shore leave during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, those who are vaccinated and take precautions now have a right to shore leave, said Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
https://cruxnow.com/cns/2022/07/all-ashore-vatican-defends-right-of-seafarers-to-shore-leave
Rising inflation and shipping disruption shift power to labour | Sea News – 11th July
European transport unions in June held a series of 24-hour ‘warning strikes’ in Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Lower Saxony amid collective wage agreement discussion.
https://www.seanews.com.tr/rising-inflation-and-shipping-disruption-shift-power-to-labour/193765/
RightShip: 8,800 Seafarers Have Been Abandoned in the Last 20 Years | Maritime Executive – 11th July
In Crew Welfare Week, we’re pausing to reflect on the fact that over the last 20 years this has been the situation faced by more than 8,800 seafarers around the world, trapped on ships that are no longer sailing anywhere, or literally dumped at the nearest port and left to fend for themselves.
No Shore Leaves: Seafarers Stuck On Ships, Covid-19 Protocols Keep Kin At Bay | Marine Insight – 11th July
Indian seafarers employed on coastal ships, including foreign-flagged vessels, are denied shore leaves as port health authorities based in Chennai are not sure if they can allow relatives to visit them or vice versa, due to the stringent Covid-19 protocols in place.
Maritime union slams Svitzer pay cut move against tugboat heroes | Green Left – 12th July
“As tugboat workers employed by Svitzer are out in mountainous seas joining a flotilla of tugs saving a ship and its 21 crew from being smashed up on the rocks, Svitzer’s management is applying to the Fair Work Commission to strip these workers’ pay and conditions,” Crumlin said.
Percentage of female seafarers remains unchanged in 40 years | Seatrade Maritime News – 13th July
The percentage of female seafarers serving in the global shipping fleet has remained unchanged at 2% for the last 40 years.
Indonesia Jails Ship Captain Over Illegal Anchoring | G Captain – 13th July
More reporting today that the Indonesian Navy is seizing ships and holding captains for allegedly anchoring illegaly in its waters.
https://gcaptain.com/indonesia-jails-ship-captain-over-illegal-anchoring/
Breach of mou: Crisis as MWUN withdraws from COMUTA | Vanguard – 14th July
Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has withdrawn from the Council of Maritime Transport Unions and Association, COMTUA, over alleged breach of the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/breach-of-mou-crisis-as-mwun-withdraws-from-comuta/
Survey launched into impact of Ukraine conflict on seafarers | Seatrade Maritime News – 14th July
The Seafarers International Relief Fund (SIRF) and the Ukraine Charity Co-ordination Group have launched a survey on what more needs to be done for seafarer impacted by war in Ukraine.
https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/survey-launched-impact-ukraine-conflict-seafarers
How substandard boats, night voyages kill people on waterways | Sun Nigeria – 14th July
On July 6, 2022, at about 7.45am, it was reported that a 20-passenger ferry carrying 17 passengers, named “R & N 2,” suddenly capsized due to mechanical fault less than 200 metres from the terminal and submerged immediately after it departed the Ipakodo ferry terminal in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. Fifteen persons were rescued, three went missing, while two were confirmed adead after the boat capsized.
https://www.sunnewsonline.com/how-substandard-boats-night-voyages-kill-people-on-waterways/
What we know so far as worker dies at Southampton docks | Southern Daily Echo – 14th July
DP World’s operations were shut down for most of the day as a mark of respect in response to the death yesterday.
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/20280133.port-worker-died-southampton-docks/
H-Line Shipping seafarers threaten to strike | Fresh Plaza – 14th July
On 11 July, the seafarers, supported by the Federation of Korean Seafarers’ Union, held a gathering outside Hahn & Company’s headquarters in Seoul. The issue of contention is H-Line Shipping’s management’s decision in June not to overturn a wage freeze that was imposed at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9444703/h-line-shipping-seafarers-threaten-to-strike/
Study: Suicide at Sea is Likely Underreported | Maritime Executive – 14th July
Recorded numbers are “likely to be inaccurate and too low,” Ipsos study finds
https://maritime-executive.com/article/study-suicide-at-sea-is-likely-underreported
Rebekah Attard | Maritime Assistant
Inspectorate Coordination
International Transport Workers’ Federation
ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London, SE1 1DR
Direct Line: 0207 940 9103
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