A new independent report commissioned by the ITF warns of the consequences for safety in the Panama Canal resulting from poor working practices that lead to fatigue for tugboat captains. It says that a major accident on the canal “could be imminent”.
Maritime crime, including armed robbery and piracy, still pose a threat to seafarers in many “hotspots”, including the waters off west Africa and the South China Sea.
In August 2018 the MoU was signed and guaranteed recruitment of Kenyan seafarers to work on MSC vessels. The SUK, ITF inspector Betty Makena, Kenya’s ministry of transport and the Kenya Maritime Authority were all involved in the recruitment process.
The study was discussed during the Plenary Session of the International Maritime Organization’s 100th Maritime Safety Committee last week and was well received as it provides an independent expert overview of the situation in the Canal.
To mark the occasion, three speakers made up a special panel with representatives from manufacturers, technology providers and the ITF-accredited representative to the IMO Branko Berlan spoke on behalf workers.
More migrants and refugees have been detected and rescued attempting to make the dangerous crossing across the English Channel from France to the English coast. Their small inflatable boats and rubber dinghies risk the hazards of crossing the world’s busiest shipping lane.
The European Union (EU) has extended its maritime security mission in Somalia until the end of 2020. “EUCAP Somalia” has been an important factor in helping to develop and enforce maritime law in Somalia.
The United Kingdom authorities detained six foreign-flagged vessels during November for failing port inspections, including breaches of safety regulations.
A court in Delaware, USA, has fined a Greek shipping firm USD2 million for the deliberate cover-up of pollution after the crew blew the whistle on the practice.
From December 9-11 in Ottawa, Canada, the Seafarers International Union of Canada (SIU Canada) hosted an Australian delegation of Labor Senator Glenn Sterle and Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Assistant National Secretary, Warren Smith who went to gather information and gain a deeper understand
