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Young seafarers air key concerns
15 April 2009
Young seafarers have flagged up criminalisation, job security and the image of seafaring amongst a range of key issues they believe should be tackled if maritime careers are to be promoted.
Meeting at a focus group session in London, UK, from 6-8 April, the 20 young seafarers discussed the positive and negative aspects of making a career in the maritime industry. Their participation in the event was facilitated by the ITF and a number of companies belonging to Intertanko, the association of independent tanker owners. The group came from seven different countries, spanning three continents and occupied positions as deck and engine officers, ratings and cadets.
During the event the seafarers made a number of recommendations which they were able to raise in a meeting with Efthimios Mitropoulos, secretary general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Among them was the need to ensure that seafarers' right to shore leave is upheld. They proposed the establishment of an international reporting scheme to log violations of this right and drew up a 'black list' of problem countries. They supported the IMO and industry initiatives to combat the criminalisation of seafarers involved in maritime accidents and called for the IMO/International Labour Organization fair treatment guidelines in the event of a maritime accident to be made mandatory.
Other recommendations included: measures to promote employment security, the need to review manning levels in the light of increased inspections and responsibilities on board and urged companies to ensure that good living and recreational facilities are provided.
Commenting on the event, Katie Higginbottom, projects and campaigns leader of the ITF’s maritime operations, said: “We were very happy to collaborate with Intertanko on this initiative to allow the voice of serving seafarers to be heard. We had excellent participation from all members of the group and a very positive reception from the IMO secretary general, Efthimios Mitropoulos. Many of the views expressed support campaigns already underway in the ITF Seafarers’ Section, others we will be looking to take forward with our industry counterparts and regulators.”
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