Meanwhile, the crew also could not be repatriated because the port State, India claimed that the ships could not be moved to a safe lay-up harbour and that a new replacement (skeleton) crew was required.įurthermore, these two abandonment cases were connected to the abandonment of another eight Indonesian seafarers on board the AHT Carrier in the port of Maputo in Mozambique. Therefore, they could not provide the necessary means of living for their families and young children whom they also had not seen for more than seven months. In January and February 2019, IMO continuously received messages from the crew that they were not being paid by the shipowner nor by the insurer. Both ships are registered in the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the registry of Curaçao. The stressful and inhumane consequences for the abandoned crew on board, and for their families, may be illustrated with the recent cases of a total of 14 Indonesian crew in Port Alang, India, on board the Miss Gaunt and Northwind. In 2017, the MLC amendments entered into force.
These require shipowners to have compulsory insurance to cover abandonment of seafarers, as well as claims for death or long-term disability of seafarers. (See Then,new obligations under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) were developed and adopted in 2014. Guidelines on Shipowners' Responsibilities in Respect of Contractual Claims for Personal Injury to or Death of Seafarers. We all have a human duty to protect seafarersĪ joint working group of IMO and the International Labour Organization (ILO), which reported to both IMO's Legal Committee and ILO's governing bodies, developed It must be tackled and it needs continual cooperation, not just between IMO and ILO and non-governmental organizations devoted to seaman’s welfare, but with flag States, port States and other industry groups too. Seafarer abandonment is a serious problem that can blight the lives of those caught up in it. IMO’s annual Day of the Seafarer, celebrated each year on June 25th, is the Organization's global campaign to give wider recognition to seafarers. On the other hand, a related concern for their welfare, both as emplo yees and as individuals, is evident in IMO’s continuing work on issues such as fatigue, fair treatment and liability and compensation for seafarers. On the one hand, the clear understanding that seafarers are ultimately responsible for implementing many of IMO's measures have led to standards for seafarer training, certification and watchkeeping being developed and enshrined in the STCW Convention. Seafarer-related issues constitute a continuing thread that has run through IMO's work for several decades. The Legal Committee is attended by representatives from Member States as well as relevant international NGOS in consultative status representing the shipping industry, charities and seafarers. Updates from IMO and ILO secretariats are provided and the Committee meetings provide an opportunity for the issue of abandonment to be raised. The IMO Legal Committee is the main forum where the issue is discussed. The issue of abandonment of seafarers has been recognized as a serious issue by Secretary-General
IMO is continuing to focus its efforts on improving the situation usually through the diplomatic efforts of the Secretariat and the IMO Secretary-General.
Uncertainty about how and when the seafarer or seafarers can get home can cause a huge toll. Health may suffer and there may not be medical help. Loss of wages impacts the seafarer and their family. Abandonment affects real people, often leaving them in a desperate plight.
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