Tag: abandonment of seafarers

All ships flying the UAE flag trading internationally, as well as all ships operating in UAE waters above 200 gross tons, must have a financial security system to protect seafarers against abandonment, death or injury, according to a circular published by the Federal Transport Authority.

The new rules oblige shipowners to provide financial security to protect seafarers from abandonment in an overseas port. Additionally, the new agreement ensures the payment of contractual compensation in the event of the death or long-term disability of a seafarer resulting from an occupational injury, illness or hazard.

Nirmal Singh Rawat, 27, lived a very challenging experience after he was stranded by the owner of the 'MT Hamed 2' oil tanker, which was anchored five nautical miles off the shore, in the borders of Sharjah and Ajman.

The United Arab Emirates Federal Transport Authority and the International Transport Workers' Federation agreed to develop a protocol to govern a closer working relationship, including increased cooperation and information exchange, in a bid to tackle abandonment cases in UAE waters.

The United Arab Emirates Transport Authority has banned all ships of the Indian Varun Resources Limited from calling the country's ports, due to repeated crew abandonment offences.

The International Group of Protection and Indemnity Clubs highlighted the importance of a Group-wide agreement to provide financial security for shipowners for the consequences of abandonment of crew.

Seafarers are those who bore the brunt of severe uncertainty within the maritime industry, according to a 2016 annual report from ISWAN. The SeafarerHelp report shows how the industry was left wrestling with a number of problems, which delivered serious knock on effects for people working at sea. 

In a bid to stop the exploitation of Indian sailors in the UAE waters, the Indian government has established a new center, the Directorate General of Shipping Communication Centre, aiming to receive the grievances and issues of stranded seafarers. 

EU Commission proposed that the EU law should enshrine an agreement between social partners to improve the working conditions of seafarers on board of EU-flagged vessels. The proposal aims to ensure that seafarers are better protected against abandonment and to strengthen their rights to compensation.