Built in Spain, owned by a Norwegian, registered in Cyprus, managed from Glasgow, chartered by the French, crewed by Russians, flying a Liberian flag, carrying an American cargo and pouring oil on to the Welsh coast. But who takes the blame?
front page quote in The Independent newspaper on the stricken tanker Sea Empress spilling oil into the sea off Milford Haven, UK in 1996.
The ILO's Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 provides comprehensive rights and protection at work for the world's more than 1.2 million seafarers. The Convention aims to achieve both decent work for seafarers and secure economic interests in fair competition for quality ship owners. As an estimated 90% of world trade is carried on ships, seafarers are essential to international trade and the international economic and trade system. The new labour standard consolidates and updates more than 68 international labour standards related to the Maritime sector adopted over the last 80 years.
MLC is ratified by 30 countries to date and will enter into force in 2013, one year after the 30th ratification occurred on 20th August 2012.
World Maritime Day, 27 September The UN, via the International Maritime Organization (IMO), created World Maritime Day to celebrate the international maritime industry’s contribution towards the world’s economy, especially in shipping. World Maritime Day focuses on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment and emphasizes particular aspects of IMO's work.
An issue that seems to have taken on a slightly secondary role at a time when shipping is already facing phenomenal challenges, the MLC mandation has been compared to a 'train speeding down the track towards us', and that if the industry does not act right now, there will be major consequences ... Giles Heimann
