US merchant marine recommendations put shore leave on the agenda

29 March 2007

A merchant marine committee is urging the US government to make access to shore leave easier for seafarers, in line with states’ obligations outlined in a key maritime code.

A meeting of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee made a number of recommendations on improving shore leave access for seafarers earlier this month. Participants at the Seattle event, including representatives from unions and the Apostleship of the Sea, which provides pastoral care to seafarers through chaplaincies, also highlighted the need to make ship visits by chaplains and union representatives easier.

The recommendations, which were based on information contained in the ITF’s report, Access denied, pointed out that states’ obligations to facilitate shore leave for seafarers were outlined in the International Maritime Organization’s International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS).

Recommendations included a call for key aspects of the ISPS code to be reviewed and following this, for ship owners or operators to ensure vessel personnel or crew change-out have access to shore leave and to visitors to the vessel - including seafarers’ welfare and labour organisation representatives. Another urged the US Coast Guard not to approve facility security plans that fail to include procedures for allowing shore leave and visitors’ access.

Jeff Engels, ITF Coordinator in Seattle, who attended the meeting commented: “Hopefully, the United States Coast Guard will take these recommendations into consideration. It is vital that seafarers’ right to shore leave be upheld, so they can visit shore-based welfare facilities, including medical centres.”

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