International Labour Organization

New Int’l Convention for Ship Recycling

A new international Convention on ship recycling has been adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 is aimed at ensuring that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment.   The Convention was adopted at a diplomatic conference held in Hong Kong, China, from 11 to 15 May 2009, attended by delegates from 63 countries. The new Convention was developed by IMO, the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution from ships.   Speaking at the close of the successful conference, IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos expressed satisfaction that the new Convention, named after the host city, was adopted by consensus in the best traditions of the Organization. He told delegates that the new Convention struck the right balance between the responsibilities and obligations of shipowners, ship recycling facilities, flag and recycling States. He added that the Convention, as adopted, allows for future improvements and provides "a platform and an avenue for better regulation, in due course, of the activity it addresses.  

ISF Disappointment at Slow Implementation of ILO 185

The International Shipping Federation (ISF), which represents maritime employers globally, says that the low level of implementation of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 185, concerning the facilitation of shore leave and crew transits, is a continuing source of disappointment.     Speaking in Manila this week, at a seminar organized by the International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations (IFSMA), ISF Director of Employment Affairs, Natalie Shaw

CSR Promotes Solution to Shore Leave/Security Dilemma

The Seamen's Church Institute's Center for Seafarers' Rights is actively promoting a single internationally developed seafarers' identity card. Currently, seafarers entering U.S. ports need a visa, which is not required in most countries. These U.S. visas recently went up in price from $65 to $100 and do not guarantee shore leave especially at private tanker terminals whose security procedures may deny shore leave to all crew members.

Breaking Ships on Tidal Beaches is Illegal

The International Ship Recycling Association (ISRA) is quite clear; Bangladeshi ship breakers who are using tidal beaches are, as ISRA understands the court decision, illegal. The ruling by the Bangladeshi High Court on the petition filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association to close the ship breaking yards is a logical outcome as beaching practices are against future international law. The court order seems to confirm ISRA’s point that the practice of using a tidal beach

Mitropoulos Presides, Arab Academy Expansion

"I could not think of a better way to formally start the ‘Year of the Seafarer’ other than by commissioning a new training centre, such as the new branch of the Arab Academy in Port Said,” said IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos on Saturday, 9 January, as he formally opened an extension to the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT). The extension is on a new 77-acre site allocated for that purpose by the Governor of Port Said

Intermanager and ITF Sign MOU

Global union federation the ITF and international ship managers' association InterManager signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that encourages them to work together on areas such as maritime safety, training, and preventing the criminalization of seafarers. The understanding was signed by InterManager Secretary General Guy Morel and ITF Seafarers' Section Secretary Jon Whitlow. The MOU identifies a significant overlap in the goals and objectives of the two organizations in the field

Guangzhou Shipyard Sees Profit Increase

According to reports, Guangzhou Shipyard International Co. Ltd., who has already seen its Hong Kong-listed shares surge almost six-fold this year, said it will report a 500% third-quarter profit increase from last year, thanks to higher efficiency and improved margins. A shorter shipbuilding cycle has also helped Guangzhou Shipyard, the only listed shipbuilding unit of China's largest ship builder, China State Shipbuilding Corp

Seafarers’ Legislation Faces Year-Long Ratification Delay

Full ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) which will have far reaching implications for the whole shipping industry, including commercial yachts, is now likely to be delayed by a year until April 2012. “Although the required gross tonnage figure has been reached there is, however, some doubt as to whether the necessary number of countries will be achieved by the end of this year,” said John Wade, technical services manager with Isle of Man-based Dominion Marine

Lloyd's Statutory Alert:

12 months until the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 comes into force. Applicabilty: All shipowners and operators On 20 August, 2012, the Philippines ratified the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006. Thirty members of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), with a total share in the world gross tonnage of ships of more than 33 per cent, have now ratified the Convention. This means that the Convention will come into force on 20 August, 2013

ITF Cautiously Approves MLC Preparations

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) gives guarded thumbs-up to preparations for implementation of Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). As Malta becomes the 34th ILO member state to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006,  the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) gave its cautious approval to the progress made across the shipping world to prepare for the convention’s all important coming into force August 2013.