A new guideline to improve conditions for seafarers

International Maritime Organisation (IMO) with International Labor Organisation (ILO) adopted a new guideline to improve conditions for seafarers including those who are abandoned. The guidelines were adopted during a meeting a meeting with governments and maritime workers and employers’ organizations as attendees. A new joint International ILO IMO Tripartite Working Group was establish to address the seafarer abandonment issue.

Increase in abandoned seafarer cases

Significant rise in abandon seafarer cases were discussed in the meeting. Cases reported to ILO have risen from less than 20 cases per year between 2011 to 2016, to 40 in 2019. It further increased to 85 in 2020, 95 in 2021 and 114 cases as of mid-December 2022.

The guideline will improve the coordination among member countries by involving flag states, in which seafarers are national or residents. It also involves recruitment and placement service operating countries to ensure the case is being resolve. This include making sure seafarers gets their wage and sending them home to their families.

Guideline under the MLC, 2006

The previous guideline under the MLC, 2006, makes flag states countries where ships belong to ensure a financial security system is in place for ships under those flags. The new guidelines further makes flag States to verify the validity of this financial security at least annually.  Port States needs to pay particular attention to this financial security during their inspections of foreign ships that visit ports. Recruitment and placement services operating states were are to regularly verify and establish a system to ensuring protection of recruits.

The new guideline

The guideline also highlights the procedures to take by state if the ship-owner abandons or fail to fulfil their obligations to the seafarer. Ship owners are to cover the cost of repatriation of seafarers, other contracted entitlements and the provision of essential circumstances. Including medical care and outstanding wages.

The Tripartite Working Group’s first meeting brought together more than 250 participants in the maritime industry.