Norway has decided against the reflagging of Color Line vessels, according to the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) flag. The company’s ships will remain under the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register (NOR), securing the jobs and wages and conditions of Norway’s seafarers.
The Norwegian Seafarers Union won the fight against Color Line’s attempt to reflag some of its vessels.
The vessels will remain under the Norwegian Ordinary Ship Register (NOR), securing the jobs and maintaining the wages and conditions of 700 Norwegian seafarers.
Johnny Hansen, NSU president, told the ITF:
This result means that Color Line – a profitable shipping company – cannot replace national seafarers with cheaper foreign labour.
The Norwegian Seafarers Union (NSU) president also added that this is a major win for the country’s seafarers, and the country itself. Enforcing and maintaining cabotage safeguards Norway’s strategic interests, provides jobs, brings added economic value while also protecting national security and the environment.
Jim Given, chair of the ITF cabotage task force in a statement congratulated the NSU and all the Norwegian seafarers employed at Color Line. He also highlighted that the union saved all the jobs while the government was poised to let Color Line flag to the NIS.
Last week, the ITF and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) convened in Geneva at the Joint Maritime Commission Subcommittee on Seafarers Wages. The two organizations decided to update the minimum wage for an able seafarer by 27 USD over the next 3 years.
