The ITF has produced a toolkit for its seafarer unions to help them lobby governments to implement international guidelines to prevent the unfair treatment of seafarers following accidents and pollution at sea, ITF said in its press release.
The toolkit highlights cases where seafarers have been scapegoated for accidents and pollution which have arisen as a result of circumstances beyond their control. Common complaints from seafarers include a lack of legal representation and interpretation services.
The toolkit also contains:
• A letter for unions to use to lobby their national governments
• A letter to shipowners seeking their support when talking to national governments
• Information and explanatory notes on the Fair Treatment Guidelines and on the Casualty Investigation Code, which sets out mandatory safeguards for seafarers required to provide evidence.ITF maritime co-ordinator Jaqueline Smith said: “Criminalisation is a very serious problem for seafarers. They are too often detained and denied access to normal rules of fair play and justice with which to defend themselves against criminal charges.
“Seafarers have a right to undertake their work without fear of being treated unfairly, or, even worse, placed in detention without recourse to fair justice and representation.
“We urge our unions to use the new toolkit, both to put pressure on their governments to implement and enforce the guidelines, and to inform seafarers of their rights.”
