The ETF, the ITF's European arm, has stepped up its opposition to the criminalisation of seafarers, following a move by the European Union to introduce the crime of serious negligence for the accidental pollution of EU waters.

The proposed directive, which breaks away from the International Maritime Organization's Marpol Convention, was agreed by ministers at a mid-June meeting in Luxembourg. This could, if ratified by the European Parliament, see individual seafarers and ship owners face criminal prosecution if they are found negligent in a case of accidental pollution.

"While we would never seek to defend irresponsible behaviour, we are seriously concerned about the directive's potential to criminalise the maritime profession and to provide additional disincentives to young people considering careers at sea. The proposals could also exacerbate the already pronounced trend of treating shipmasters and senior officers as scapegoats following a serious incident," commented Eduardo Chagas, ETF maritime transport section secretary.

Bail restrictions on oil tanker Prestige's Captain Mangouras were loosened in April, more than a year after the vessel sank off the coast of Spain.

In a similar incident, the ITF was congratulated on its successful campaign to release eight crew members of the Tasman Spirit, who had been arrested following an oil spill in the port of Karachi, Pakistan in August 2003.

These cases, claims the ETF, have highlighted the need for internationally-agreed measures to protect seafarers from unjust criminalisation.