Labor organization issues statement on piracy

Read at ITF: Indian Ocean now unsafe for seafarers

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• Indian trade unions lobby shipping minister about the criminalization of seafarers

     Seafarers’ unions have called on the Indian government to support their campaign against the criminalisation of seafarers and help secure the release of the practice’s latest victims. The Indian Seafarers’ Federation – representing the ITF-affiliated unions, National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) and the Maritime Union of India (MUI) – met

• To provide EU-led welfare facilities for seafarers and their families in India

    Indian seafarers and their families stand to benefit from two new welfare schemes in 2010, thanks to an initiative by an ITF-affiliated seafarers’ union. The two schemes, initiated by the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), will provide much needed financial help and assistance to seafarers and their families

• Pirate-infested seas \ u0026quot, not fit for seafarers

    The ITF yesterday threw down the gauntlet to those flag states and shipowners who have not taken action to fight Somali piracy to act now, before the threat makes it virtually impossible for seafarers to pass through the ever-widening danger area. The Federation stated that: “save in exceptional circumstances, ships

• To stop imprisoning our sailors

    The Round Table of shipping associations has called on governments to stop imprisoning seafarers without charge claiming that that the spread of criminalisation and unfair treatment will only jeopardise the global recruitment and retention of seafarers.

• Somali Pirates Free Greek – Owned Cargo Ship

    Somali pirates have released the Greek-owned ship MV Delvina, a Kenyan maritime official said on Thursday.

• Indian waters no turn-ply zone for single-hull tankers after 2010

    In a bid to prevent old and unsafe single-hull tankers from sailing Indian waters, the Government has decided not to extend the special exemption granted to the existing Indian flag tankers, to ships registered after December 31, 2009.

• Indian seafarers to reach Mumbai after he was released by Somali pirates

    As Somali pirates released a Panamanian-flagged ship on Tuesday that carried a crew of 26, most of whom Indians, eight of the released seafarers reached Mumbai city and re-united with their families. The European Union naval mission in the region confirmed that the vessel was set free after the Somali

• Somali pirates attack ships in the Indian Ocean

    Somali pirates on Thursday seized a Singapore-flagged container ship in the Indian Ocean near the Seychelles, maritime sources told AFP. “The Singapore flagged and owned boxship Kota Wajar was seized around 300 nautical miles north the Seychelles,” said Andrew Mwangura, who heads the Kenyan chapter of East African Seafarers Assistance

• Latvian seafarers at sea again as recession bites

    Latvia has suffered more than most from the economic ravages of the current global recession but its difficulties has lit a light of hope for crew managers as larger numbers of its ex-seafarers are now returning to sea in search… Read at Latvian seafarers returning to sea as recession bites

• Finnish Association and unions agree on mixed teams

    The Shipowners’ association and the different seafarers’ employee unions in Finland have agreed on the terms of employing seafarers from non-EU countries on Finnish-flagged vessels. The aim is to secure the supply of competent seafarers on Finnish and Åland cargo vessels. The share of foreign employees in a shipping company

• Pirates use Indian dhow from Somalia: Maritime official

    Pirates have seized an Indian dhow off the coast of Somalia in the third such incident in a week, a regional maritime official said on Monday. Andrew Mwangura of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme said his group was seeking more details on the vessel, which he named as

• Yemen says Somali pirates attack Yemeni Cargo

    Somali pirates have seized a Yemeni cargo vessel with a crew of 16 and are taking it out towards the Indian Ocean, a Yemeni Defence Ministry website said on Monday. The vessel, called Al Mahmoud 2, had left Yemen’s southern port of Aden on Dec

• PROPOSED CHANGES TO Jones Act already having an impact SEAMEN

    The impact of proposed changes to the Jones Act and the use of foreign flagged vessels in the US offshore sector is already being felt by seafarers according to international shipping recruitment agency Faststream, with companies rushing to replace their… Read at PROPOSED CHANGES TO JONES ACT ALREADY IMPACTING SEAFARERS

• Improvements for seafarers

    Ongoing international negotiations between maritime employers and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have resulted in improvements in seafarers’ working conditions despite the current economic downturn. Sixty delegates from 17 countries representing international maritime employers and the ITF, known as… Read at Improvements for seafarers

• Up to 364,000 sailors deficit by 2050, says Tokyo think tank

    The gloomiest forecast yet of the widening scarcity in skilled and trained seafarers has been delivered by the highly respected Tokyo-based think tank Ocean Policy Research Foundation which claims that a boom in global seaborne trade over the next 40… Read at Up to 364,000 seafarer shortfall by 2050, says Tokyo