SRI calls for investigation into perfect storm
(Posted on 13/09/20)
The recent spate of grim casualties cannot simply be written off as bad luck, says Seafarers’ Rights International (SRI), the international pan-industry body researching maritime and seafarers’ law. It points out that the failure to treat seafarers as keyworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic is having devastating effects on individuals, who are now at risk of being caught in a perfect storm of exhaustion from extended employment agreements, increasing numbers of accidents, maritime casualties, and unfair criminal investigations.
“The response to this seems to be to blame the seafarer,” says Deirdre Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of SRI. “The spotlight should be on how the industry responds to these recent casualties. Has COVID-19 played a part in these situations? Will there be fair investigations - as mandatorily required under the IMO Code for Safety Investigations - so lessons can be learned to prevent further tragic loss of seafarers’ lives and damage to the marine environment?”
Brian Orrell, OBE, Chairman of the Board of SRI, who led the seafarers in the joint IMO/ILO negotiations that produced the Guidelines on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident and in the negotiations that resulted in the Maritime Labour Convention, agrees: “If there ever was a time for fair treatment of seafarers, that time is now. Fair treatment of seafarers following casualties and in working conditions are based on international standards that must be followed even in very difficult times,” he says.
Amongst the recent wave of casualties was the Panamanian-registered bulk carrier Wakashio which ran aground on a coral reef south of Mauritius, spilling an estimated 1000 tonnes of oil and ultimately leading to the death of two members of the tugboat involved in the oil spill clean-up. An early response from the Government of Mauritius has been to arrest the Captain and the Chief Officer.
Then early in September, the Panamanian-registered vessel, Gulf Livestock 1, was tragically lost with around 40 crew members and nearly 6,000 cattle in Typhoon Maysak. This news came as firefighting crews from Sri Lanka and India were working to put out a large blaze aboard the Panamanian-registered oil tanker, New Diamond. One Filipino crew member died, and one was injured in the engine room explosion that sparked the fire.
SRI Advisory Board Member Dave Heindel, Chairman of the ITF Seafarers’ Section, and Jacqueline Smith, the ITF Maritime Coordinator have repeatedly warned against the toxic effects of COVID-19, fatigue and safety at sea: “These maritime casualties should re-ignite the debate on how serious the industry is about reducing the number of reported shipping incidents and tackling slow or non-existent investigations into maritime casualties, one of the industry’s most notorious safety shortcomings.
“Massive decreases in shore leave and onshore medical treatment are being accompanied by inordinate periods of service on board contrary to rights of seafarers under the Maritime Labour Convention. This leads to chronic fatigue. And that exposes the safety of crews and the protection of the marine environment to much greater risks.”
Latest News
Chevron keeps ships sailing amid VLSFO challenges
(Posted on 19/01/21)Chevron Marine Lubricants has helped ship owner customers identify and manage a distinctive engine condition... Read more
Coles to leave Wallem
(Posted on 19/01/21)The board of Wallem Group have announced that Chief Executive Frank Coles has resigned and will be leaving... Read more
Seanergy announces $179m restructuring
(Posted on 14/01/21)Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. has announced that it has reached final agreements with certain of... Read more
IOMSR seafarer welfare app goes live
(Posted on 14/01/21)The Isle of Man Ship Registry has formally launched the first ever seafarer welfare app designed by... Read more
DNV GL to change name to DNV
(Posted on 13/01/21)DNV GL, the assurance and risk management company, will change its name to DNV on 1 March 2021. The... Read more
Yxney Maritime and Inmarsat agreement
(Posted on 10/01/21)Norwegian-based scale-up Yxney Maritime and Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications... Read more
ClassNK advises early BWMS installation
(Posted on 10/01/21)Leading Classification Society ClassNK has been analyzing the retrofitting status of ballast water management... Read more
Cybersecurity to remain a threat in 2021
(Posted on 05/01/21)The maritime industry will remain a target of cyber-criminals in 2021 and the world’s shipping... Read more
IOMSR appoints China representative
(Posted on 05/01/21)The Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) has appointed its first permanent representative in China.Well... Read more
First shipment at Khalifa Port’s South Quay
(Posted on 28/12/20)The first shipment, carrying bauxite, destined for Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)’s Al Taweelah... Read more
