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27 January, 2000The International Metalworkers' Federation renews its call to ban substandard ships.
GENEVA: The anti-FOC (flags of convenience) campaign ship MV Global Mariner, belonging to the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), arrived in Marseilles this week to publicise trade union demands for a new, strict safety regime which could result in unsafe vessels being barred from major trading nations' waters. In the aftermath of the Erika ship disaster, the IMF has added its voice to the debate by focusing on five demands to the international shipping community:
- Flag states must monitor the operations of all ships which fly their flags.
- All port states must keep full records of inspections by their authorities, as well as of the repair work carried out.
- A central register for all sea-going vessels should be established.
- All major trading nations should introduce legislation to bar those vessels which fail to maintain satisfactory standards of maintenance from entering their waters.
- Strict scrapping policies must be applied to substandard vessels.
"No ships are sub-standard when they are built," commented Marcello Malentacchi, IMF general secretary. "They only become so through the failure of ship owners to ensure adequate maintenance. So the real problem is sub-standard ship owners who put profit before the lives of seafarers and the marine environment, and they must be made to adopt acceptable standards."
- Flag states must monitor the operations of all ships which fly their flags.
- All port states must keep full records of inspections by their authorities, as well as of the repair work carried out.
- A central register for all sea-going vessels should be established.
- All major trading nations should introduce legislation to bar those vessels which fail to maintain satisfactory standards of maintenance from entering their waters.
- Strict scrapping policies must be applied to substandard vessels.
"No ships are sub-standard when they are built," commented Marcello Malentacchi, IMF general secretary. "They only become so through the failure of ship owners to ensure adequate maintenance. So the real problem is sub-standard ship owners who put profit before the lives of seafarers and the marine environment, and they must be made to adopt acceptable standards."