Tag: harassment

Australian authorities detained the Liberian-registered bulk carrier 'Anna-Elisabeth' after crew onboard the vessel complained of insufficient food, bullying aboard the vessel and denial of shore leave. ITF received the complaints from onboard the ship berthed at the Port Kembla Coal Terminal on 25 March.

Sophia Bullard, Crew Health Programme Director at UK P&I Club, provides her comments on how to address bullying and harassment on board ships. Ms. Bullard says that companies and management should be receptive to change and adopt a zero tolerance approach to deal with bullying and harassment at sea. In fact, during the last ten years, there is an increase on the focus regarding harassment in maritime.

Unwanted sexual contact in 2017-2018 increased for cadets and midshipmen compared to rates last measured in 2016, according to figures released by the US DoD. Among all female cadets and midshipmen, 15.8% experienced unwanted sexual contact in the past year in the 2018 survey, an increase from 12.2%.

A new research project at Kalmar maritime academy aims to map out methods and strategies to reduce the risk of negative special treatment within the shipping industry. Working at sea, often for many months, means that a person who is subjected to harassment may face difficulties to withdraw and little opportunity to receive support.

Amended on three occasions since its entry into force in 2013 in order to keep up with the needs of the shipping sector, the MLC Convention has now been ratified by 90 member States representing more than 91% of the world merchant shipping fleet. The MLC, 2006 consolidates almost all previous maritime instruments adopted throughout the century.

British charity Apostleship of the Sea issued their Life at Sea report detailing cases they have encountered while providing support to seafarers around the world in 2017-2018. These stories, summarizing the eight challenges that crews of today have to face, aim to demonstrate that, by working in partnership, we can all improve the lives of seafarers and fishermen around the world.

The second set of amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) for improving crew safety and welfare have entered into force, as of 8 January 2019. The amendments, agreed in 2016, are comprised of additions to the guidelines of Regulation 4.3. They cover health and safety protection and accident prevention. 

Taking into consideration the need for a more holistic approach towards gender diversity, shipping is constantly showing an increased interest in augmenting the role and presence of women in a traditionally male-dominated industry. According to WISTA, Norway was ranked first in gender equality in maritime, where women account for 42% on company boards.

Human rights at sea gains significant attention of the maritime community. Due to its diversified identity, shipping constitutes a friendly field for human rights abuses, with human trafficking, illegal migration, slavery and abuse in fishing sector and even the unsafe working conditions in many Southeast Asian ship recycling facilities being among the key areas of concern.

At the 120th session of its Council meeting in London, IMO selected the "Empowering Women in the Maritime Community" as the World Maritime Day theme for 2019, in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality, in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.