ITF welcomes new United Nations database
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2006
The ITF has welcomed the launch in March 2006 of an international database of abandoned crews.
The database is compiled by two United Nations agencies: the International Labour Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation. It can be viewed online at www.ilo.org/dyn/seafarers.
Jon Whitlow, ITF Seafarers’ Section Secretary, said: “Abandonment is a continuing, daily scandal. We welcome this effort by the ILO and IMO to throw a little more light on the problem. Projects such as this and the excellent Equasis website make the often closed world of shipping more transparent. We hope this new database will also help wake up some of the flag states involved to their obligations.”
He continued: “We look forward to the day when the existing IMO/ILO guidelines on financial security for abandoned seafarers become a mandatory future part of the Seafarers’ Bill of Rights or equivalent legislation.”