A new provision of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) coming into force today is aimed at addressing crew abandonment at a time when such incidents are on the rise.
According to the new clause, shipowners must have insurance to assist seafarers on vessels if they are abandoned.
It emerged yesterday that the crew on the 28,564-dwt Sea Honest (built 1997), owned by Vera Shipping, have remained stranded for seven months off Algeria.
TradeWinds has reported more cases of crew abandonment in recent months, involving owners like Greece’s NewLead Holdings and FreeSeas.
Paddy Crumlin, president of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said: “From tomorrow the mechanisms will be in place for a huge change that will finally treat the running sore of crew abandonment.
“At last the fundamental idea that those who send seafarers to sea have a responsibility for them is enshrined in regulation.”
