Heindel News

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) added ARC Honor as the ninth American flag roll-on roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel to its fleet.“This tremendously capable and flexible U.S.-flag ship is crewed by American merchant mariners and now operates in ARC’s global network supporting America’s national defense and economic security through trade,” said Eric Ebeling, ARC President & CEO. The vessel is ARC’s fourth large car/truck carrier (LCTC) vessel.The former Tulane was re-flagged to American registry and re-named the ARC Honor on February 2, 2024.

Seafarers’ unions and maritime employers have signed a four-year agreement that will see significant wage increases and dozens of workplace protections and improvements for over 250,000 seafarers’ serving on more than 10,000 vessels.The International Bargaining Forum (IBF), the forum that negotiates the world’s largest global collective bargaining agreement, agreed terms for the 2024-2027 IBF Framework Agreement last week in Berlin.Seafarers covered by the agreement will receive a 6% wage increase over the next two years (4% wage and compensations increase from January 1…

The ITF Seafarers Trust has reported that the Izmail Seafarers' Centre was hit by a Russian drone attack in the early hours of August 2.The centre, previously funded by the ITF Seafarers Trust, has been housing families made homeless by bombing in other parts of the Odesa, Ukraine. Despite the significant damage done to the building, there were no casualties as resident families and staff working at the 24-hour facility had already taken shelter in the basement.Oleg Grigoryuk…

The risk of coming across floating mines in the major Black Sea shipping route is adding to perils for merchant ships sailing in the region, and governments must ensure safe passage to keep supply chains running, maritime officials say.The Black Sea is key for shipping grain, oil, and oil products. Its waters are shared by Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, and Turkey, as well as Ukraine and Russia, which have been at war since President Vladimir Putin invaded his southern neighbor on Feb.

The maritime industry is establishing its own approved international network of quarantine facilities to ensure safe crew changes as the Omicron variant spurs governments to close their borders to seafarers needing to leave and join ships.The Crew Enhanced Quarantine International Program (#CrewEQUIP) is a partnership between the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC); the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS); and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)…

Seafarers are left unprotected by systemic failures in the implementation of the regulatory regime for work and rest hours at sea, a newly published report finds.The World Maritime University's (WMU) new report,  "A Culture of Adjustment", by Dr. Raphael Baumler, Yvette deKlerk, Dr. Michael Ekow Manuel and Dr. Laura Carballo Piñeiro confirms previous research that suggested recording malpractices are widespread, which seriously questions the capacity of the current regulatory…

The International Bargaining Forum (IBF) designated the Strait of Hormuz as a Temporary Extended Risk Zone on 13 August 2019, following multiple incidents over the previous 12 weeks and rising tensions in the Gulf of Oman.According to the shipping's largest industrial relations collective, this means that seafarers who are subject to an attack in the zone, are entitled to a bonus and doubled death and disability compensation.This follows a period of discussions by the IBF’s Warlike Operations Areas Committee over the past weeks, who have been closely monitoring the situation and the risk to shipping.Speaking at the conclusion of the talks, the Joint Negotiating Group’s (JNG) Chairman Capt. Koichi Akamine said, “These discussions were never going to be easy.

The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) warns that a major accident on the Panama Canal could be imminent, highlighting the serious health and safety concerns related to the fatigue of tugboat captains.The new report  takes the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) to task with tiredness, rather than the protocols in place for the physical transfer of vessels as was the case previously.Fatigue of Panama Canal tugboat poses a major threat to safety in the operation of the canal’s Neopanamax locks, according to the new independent study by ITF.The ITF, and affiliate Union de Capitanes y Oficiales de Cubierta (UCOC), have been locked in a protracted struggle with the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) over minimum safe manning…

Press release - The ITF Seafarers’ Trust is launching an enhanced version of its free Shore Leave app – the first app designed to help seafarers looking for reliable transport when in port. Shore Leave only needs to be downloaded once, and after that all the contact details of seafarers’ centers all over the world are stored in the user’s smartphone and accessible offline, anywhere, anytime. It also includes all the contact details for ISWAN Seafarers Help, the 24/7 helpline for seafarers. Luca Tommasi, Seafarers’ Trust Project Manager explained: “The idea of the original app was to transform the ISWAN seafarers’ centers directory into an interactive app that could be used offline. The response from seafarers was very positive and the app was downloaded over 10,000 times.

The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Progamme (MPHRP) was launched during the height of maritime piracy to provide humanitarian support to the victims of piracy and their families. The programme received funding from several groups, funding which is set to expire at the end of March. The ITF's (International Transport Workers' Federation) Seafarers' Trust, one of the programme's core sponsors, has pledged to continue funding in a statement released today, but has called for the MPHRP to become part of an existing charity by the end of 2015, citing ISWAN as an example of an optimum home for the programme. Trust funding enabled the MPHRP to make a significant contribution to the welfare support of seafarers…

The widespread adoption of the ILO's 2003 Convention on Seafarer's Identity Documents (SIDs) requires technical upgrades, employers, trade unions, and government officials meeting at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva said Monday. ILO Convention 185 was designed to standardize SIDs in the digital age and facilitate the entry of foreign seafarers holding SIDs into foreign nations for shore leave, transfer and transit. But the measure has only been ratified by 30 states, less than half the number that ratified C108, it's 1958 predecessor, IHS Maritime 360 reported. The tripartite meeting at the ILO delivered recommendations to spur widespread ratification of the convention and implementation of SID documents…

Crowley Maritime Corp. inform that its ocean class tugs have successfully delivered oversized, overweight equipment – comprised of topsides, tendons, piles and more – that are now part of a massive semi-submersible floating production facility located in the U.S. Gulf, approximately 280 miles south of New Orleans, La. Working alongside the tugs were Crowley’s 455 series high-deck-strength barges, which carried much of the equipment as it was towed offshore. Utilizing the Crowley tugs’ dynamic positioning capabilities, the facility, known as Jack/St.

The ITF Seafarers’ Trust, the charity arm of the International Transport Workers” Federation, has authorized two grants totalling GBP100,000 to aid Filipino seafarers and their families affected by Typhoon Haiyan. The grants, for GBP50,000 each are being awarded to the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) and the Philippine Seafarers Union (PSU) to help them deliver emergency relief for seafarers and their families. ITF Seafarers’ Trust chair Dave Heindel commented: “Around 300,000 of the world’s seafarers are from the Philippines, many of them from the worst hit areas. These two grants will allow us to provide targeted help to them.

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. The ITF is actively monitoring efforts to prepare for the MLC’s entry into operation – including its own. It believes that the legislation, the first worldwide bill of rights for seafarers, can make a positive difference to everyone serving at sea, irrespective of their nationality and the flag the ship they are on is flying.

Panelists say U.S. may be at competitive disadvantage by not adopting “MLC, 2006”. Panelists at a major symposium on an international maritime agreement today said the U.S. may be at a competitive economic disadvantage if it doesn’t approve what more than 30 other shipping nations have adopted. The symposium, hosted by the Seamen’s Church Institute of New York and New Jersey, the Charleston School of Law and its Charleston Maritime Law Institute, focused discussion on the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006, also known as “MLC, 2006.”  The most significant development in seafarers’ rights law in history, it provides a comprehensive statement of seafarers’ working conditions that balance tradition and modern shipping realities.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the International Shipping Federation (ISF) are united in welcoming the news that the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) will enter into force in just 12 months’ time, in August 2013, following the announcement that it has been ratified by 30 ILO Member States, the latest being Russia and the Philippines. The tonnage requirement of at least 33% gross tonnage has also been well exceeded and currently stands at just below 60%. However, the ILO social partners warn that shipowners will need to ensure they are ready before the new regime of global labour standards comes into force.

The US Department of Transportation has publicly praised the role played by merchant mariners during the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Department singles out those working on vessels on that day for special recognition, and has produced a short video on the matter. For full details please see www.dot.gov/affairs/2011/marad1011.html Dave Heindel, ITF seafarers’ section chair and secretary-treasurer of the SIU (Seafarers International Union), whose members, along with those of the MEBA and ILA, were involved throughout the 9/11 relief and evacuation effort, commented: “This is the recognition that these men and women deserve, and it’s great that it’s been made public. Once again US mariners were quick to answer their nation’s call when and where needed.

On Thursday evening, April 22, 2010, Seafarers & International House will hold its annual awards banquet, “Setting the Course,” at the New York Athletic Club for the purpose of honoring Donald Keefe, President of Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, Philip J. Schapiro, President & CEO of Liberty Maritime Corporation and Joseph C. Sweeney, Distinguished Professor of Law at Fordham University School of Law. Seafarers & International House is a Lutheran mission serving seafarers and sojourners. Its 84-room guesthouse at 123 East 15th Street in Manhattan, once one of several seafarer hotels, is now utilized to accommodate a greater variety of travelers, including domestic violence victims, refugees, asylum seekers, as well as the reduced number of seafarers requiring accommodations.