The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has issued a statement in which it condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack on the MV True Confidence, which has claimed the lives of three innocent seafarers and left others wounded.
According to ITF, no delivery window is worth the loss of seafarers’ lives. We call on the industry to divert ships around the Cape of Good Hope until safe transit through the Red Sea can be guaranteed. This act of senseless violence on the high seas is an affront to transport workers all over the world and a clear violation of international law, ITF notes.
Our hearts ache for the families and loved ones of the seafarers who lost their lives and were injured in this horrific attack. We stand in unwavering solidarity with them during this time of unimaginable grief and offer our support in navigating the aftermath of this tragedy.
… said Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the ITF, highlighting that they have consistently warned the international community and the maritime industry about the escalating risks faced by seafarers in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.
ITF Seafarers’ Section Chair David Heindel stated that these brave seafarers embarked on their journeys with a commitment to connect nations, facilitate trade, and uphold the vital maritime industry. Their dedication to their profession was an embodiment of resilience and courage. “The news of their untimely departure weighs heavily on all of us, and we stand together in mourning the immeasurable loss”, Hendel said.
This attack serves as the starkest reminder of the urgent need for collective action to safeguard the lives of those who keep the global economy afloat.
… ITF concludes
