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IBF resolution on the Hebei Two
27/05/09
TitleDuring a meeting of the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), held in London on 20th May 2009, the delegates of the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the International Maritime Employers’ Committee were appraised of the Republic of Korea Supreme Court judgement in the case of the two officers, namely Capt. Jasprit Singh Chawla & Chief Officer Chetan Syam of the oil tanker Hebei Spirit. They discussed the fall-out and the implications of the judgement, and
APPRECIATING the judgement of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea in overturning the imprisonment sentence to the two officers; and expressing pleasure at the considerate judgement of the court,
HOWEVER, dismayed at the criminal charges still being upheld holding them guilty of the collision;
RECALLING that the collision was imposed upon the Hebei Spirit by the tugs and barge carrying heavy lift, while she was securely anchored in the fully laden condition at the location designated by the local port authority;
RECALLING further that after having been hit by the barge and heavy lift, the officers took all measures that they could in an exemplary manner, including reducing the outflow of oil through measures such as transfer of cargo to un-ruptured tanks, listing the ship to the opposite side, and rigging collision mats, etc.
NOTING with appreciation that these actions on the part of the Hebei Spirit officers have been termed as exemplary and lauded by one and all in the maritime field and oil tanker industry that they have even been rewarded for their actions;
APPRECIATING that the Korean Court had in, the first instance, acquitted them of all charges;
REGRETTING that the Appellate Court had reversed this decision based upon the Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal report of investigation carried out notwithstanding the International guidelines;
FURTHER regretting that though cleared of imprisonment, they still face criminal charges for the collision and are still been detained in <¬10lace>Korea;
REQUEST all concerned to express solidarity for the immediate release of these Officers and appeal to the Honourable court of Korea to consider the case in the right spirit and release these innocent Officers and allow them to return home.
ENDS
About the IBF (see www.itfseafarers.org/about-IBF.cfm for more details)
The IBF is a breakthrough negotiating forum that brings together the ITF and international maritime employers .
In 1999, the ITF began to negotiate with the International Maritime Employers’ Committee (IMEC), a group of ship owners and managers from around the world. Soon afterwards, another group of ship owners, the International Mariners Management Association of Japan (IMMAJ), also entered into dialogue with the ITF. Together, IMEC and IMMAJ form the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG). The JNG was formally established in 2003. It has since expanded to include the Korean Shipowners’ Association (KSA).
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