Seafarers' union International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has said its campaign to get stranded crew off ships is "not an incitement to strike".
In a statement with the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG), which represents employers, it sought to clarify its intentions when it urged exhausted seafarers not to extend contracts after months of being stuck on vessels amid the coronavirus crisis.
The two sides said they had worked tirelessly along with the International Chamber of Shipping on finding solutions to the crew change restrictions since the start of the pandemic.
The "Enough is Enough" campaign is not aimed at shipowners, the ITF said, but rather at pushing governments to relax restrictions.
"ITF and JNG recognise that when seafarers have finished their extended contracts, they are fatigued physically and/or mentally, and feel that they are not fit to continue to safely perform their duties at the level required of a professional," the two groups said.
"The responsible action at this point is not to extend their contract and request repatriation. This is not an incitement to strike."
The two sides believe crew have a right not to extend their deals and they cannot be compelled to work.
Storing up problems
The ITF has twice extended contract deadlines for hundreds of thousands of seafarers employed under International Bargaining Forum (IBF) wage agreements.
"We have jointly pursued every diplomatic avenue available but still crew change remains a major issue," the union said, adding it is getting daily messages from tired crews.
The current situation is inviting accidents or major incidents, the two organisations said.
UK charity Human Rights at Sea criticised the campaign as irresponsible last week, and said it put the most vulnerable at risk through a potential disruption of supply chains.
The group then retracted the statement and apologised for its tone after coming under fire on social media.
