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 with the Indian minister of shipping, GK Vasan, on 28
July. Delegates included NUSI secretary and treasurer, Abdulgani Y
Serang, and NUSI president, Shanti Patel, who were accompanied by
Jasprit Chawla and Syam Chetan, the two seafarers who were detained by
the Korean government for 18 months before their release in June, and
other industry representatives. Addressing the minister, the group
expressed concern over the ongoing criminalisation of Indian seafarers
on Indian vessels as well as on ships registered elsewhere. They urged
the Indian government to intervene in the cases of captain Glen Aroza
and able seaman Sakib Sakharkar.
Aroza, from Mangalore, former master of the Tosa, has been held in
Taiwan since April this year after being accused of failing to aid a
capsized fishing vessel; while, Sakib Sakharkar, from Ratnagiri has
been held in Algeria since August 2008 after a stowaway on board the
vessel on which he served died. Vasan promised to look positively into
the issues. The Indian Seafarers’ Federation has also sought support
from the external affairs ministry and the maritime administration.
Earlier this month, the ITF joined the international call on Taiwan to
release three crewmembers from the Tosa, including captain Aroza. Two
were released but Aroza remains in detention. Abdulgani Y Serang said:
“The ITF, the Hong Kong Shipowners’ Association and other shipping
associations nationally and internationally have strongly condemned the
wrongful criminalisation of seafarers and have sought justice for the
two detained Indian seafarers. That’s what we are seeking too.”
SS Khan, MUI general secretary, added: “We are hoping that our appeal
for intervention from the Indian government will help our campaign to
stamp out this shameful practice.”

Source: ITF

Search to find what you want

• 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.

• Criminalization and hurt PIRACY SEAFARER RECRUITMENT MANAGER WARNS INTER

    Shortages of skilled and qualified seafarers could have an immense impact on the global economy and are being exacerbated by the negative impact of crew criminalisation and the escalating problem of global piracy, warns InterManager, the international trade association for… Read at CRIMINALISATION AND PIRACY ARE DAMAGING SEAFARER RECRUITMENT WARNS INTERMANAGER

• Governments flouted law Maritime Dangerous: Sailors

    Governments around the world flouting international maritime law and conventions and arresting sailors on criminal charges has turned sailing into a dangerous profession, a mariners’ body said Saturday. “Over the last decade, there has been an increasing tendency to criminalise mariners for accidents. This has been gaining ground not only

• Update BIMCO and ISF manpower study in 2010

    It has been 20 years since BIMCO and ISF first decided to conduct the original 1990 BIMCO/ISF Manpower study and both parties have recently decided to launch a 2010 update.

• 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

• Inter manager goes to strength

    InterManager, the international trade association for the shipmanagement industry, announced a growth in membership and dynamic plans for the future at its Annual General Meeting in London this week. Worldwide InterManager membership now stands at 32 with 50 affiliated members. This growth includes four new shipmanagers, one new crew manager

• ITF: Indian Ocean is now the safety of seafarers

    Labor organization issues statement on piracy Read at ITF: Indian Ocean now unsafe for seafarers

• Justice for Cormorant crew

    The ITF yesterday congratulated the Danish authorities for acting to avert a potential miscarriage of justice against three seafarers. The men – innocent victims of a ship owner who took their passports and abandoned them and their ship – were close to being deported and given criminal records as illegal

• ICS Executive Committee meets in London

    The Executive Committee of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which is the principal international trade association for international merchant shipowners, met in London this week. CO2 Emission Reductions In the run up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Copenhagen in December,  the Committee expressed satisfaction with the real progress already

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Indian Government removes conflict of interest clause for port-auctions

    Firms bidding for cargo handling projects at Indian state-owned ports are welcoming news that the Government has removed two controversial rules used to qualify their bids. Read at Indian government removes conflict of interest clause for port auctions

• 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