The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) have introduced the Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause, to promote the safety of seafarers.
This clause stipulates that tasks like lashing and unlashing cargo should be handled by trained and qualified dockworkers rather than seafarers. The primary objective is to alleviate the additional physical burden on seafarers, thereby reducing fatigue and preventing potential accidents on board.
Lashing and unlashing cargo are labor-intensive and require specific skills to be executed safely. When seafarers are assigned these duties, their already heavy workload increases, leading to greater fatigue. This heightened fatigue can impair alertness, slow reaction times, and elevate the risk of accidents that endanger both the crew and the vessel.
By adhering to the Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause and hiring local dockworkers for tasks like lashing and unlashing, companies can help create a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable maritime industry for all.
… said ITF in a statement.
