Panama has been gaining recognition for its part of facilitating crew changes during these challenging times but also received backlash when they issued a notice advising seafarers’ contracts to be extended by a further of three months.
To remind, in a tweet Mark Dickinson, the general secretary of UK trade union Nautilus International published an image revealing that Panama enables the extension of seafarer contracts; The extension means some ships will sail with seafarers who will have worked eight months beyond the maximum period specified under the Maritime Labour Convention.
Following the news, Nautilus International is calling for all Panama flagged vessels to be inspected by port state authorities for potential breaches of the Maritime Labour Convention.
The Union commented that “PSC should immediately target all Panamanian ships and detain for breaches of the MLC! This is utterly shameful and inhumane.”
In the meantime, Intercargo reported that 30% of all seafarers on cargo ships are still serving even after completing their contracts and that at least five percent of all seafarers have been on board for over 12 months in breach of the Maritime Labour Convention.
Recently, Panama conducted its first “Isthmic Transshipment” operation amid COVID-19 which consists of 91 crewmembers of about 25 nationalities onboard the Carnival Miracle Cruise, in efforts to repatriate the crew to their home.
