THE International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has welcomed progress made at the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the issue of facilitating shore leave, reports London's Tanker Operator.
At the ILO in Geneva, a meeting of employers, trade unions and governments agreed to a common approach to seafarers identity documents to improve the welfare of seafarers maintaining national security.
The recommendations, to bring seafarers ID papers to the status of e-passports, will now pass to the ILO governing body for study and a decision on implementation proposal known as ILO 185.
Said ITF seafarer chairman David Heindel: "ILO 185 has two key aims: to uphold security and allow passage of seafarers on shore leave and in transit. These recommendations should help persuade states ratification is in everyone's best interests."
Representing owners, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) said it is hopeful progress can now be made towards improving the facilitation of shore leave and crew transfers for the world's 1.5 million seafarers.
Said Chamber of Shipping of America chairman Joe Cox: "The principal concern of shipowners with respect to ILO 185 has always been that it should help to ensure seafarers' access to shore leave and their ability to join or leave a vessel in a foreign country. But technical issues have clearly prevented widespread implementation by governments."
WORLD SHIPPING
15 February 2015 - 20:45
Owners, unions, governments agree on approach to shore leave, ID papers
THE International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) has welcomed progress made at the UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) on the issue of facilitating shore leave, reports London's Tanker Operator.
WORLD SHIPPING
15 February 2015 - 20:45
Owners, unions, governments agree on approach to shore leave, ID papers
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