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Protests over unfair detention of seafarers in Korea
25 Julho 2008
Organisations from across the world’s shipping industry this week issued a vigorous joint protest over the continuing unjust detention of two merchant ships’ officers from the tanker Hebei Spirit.
The Hong Kong registered vessel was struck by a crane barge last December outside the South Korean port of Taean, which led to an oil spill. Captain Jasprit Chalwa and Chief Officer Syam Chetan were recently acquitted of all charges of violating the nation’s ocean pollution law by a South Korean court.
The round table of international shipping associations – BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping, International Shipping Federation, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO – as well as the ITF, the International Group of P&I Clubs, and the Hong Kong Shipowners’ Association made the statement on Tuesday. In it they conveyed their concern to the Korean authorities over news that the courts had decided to continue to detain the ship’s officers, pending further hearings, despite their acquittal.
The statement said that the criminalisation of seafarers could not be supported, “nor unjust, unreasonable and unfair treatment that is contrary to the principles agreed to worldwide in the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) Guidelines on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident.”
“We appeal to the government of the Republic of Korea to take the necessary action to ensure that the seafarers are immediately permitted to return to their homes,” the statement read.
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