Tag: working conditions

The first detention of a fishing vessel under the provisions of the International Labour Organization’s Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) has taken place in late June, involving a foreign 380 GT vessel in Cape Town, South Africa, following complaints by the crew about working conditions, ILO informed.

With a fatal injury rate of 86%, fishers have been identified as the second most dangerous job in US, according to figures by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Studies by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed the greatest dangers to fishermen are vessel disasters, falls overboard, and machinery on deck.

The video by National Geographic provides an insight into working conditions in one of the world's largest ship recycling yards. Shipbreaking is considered as one of the world's most dangerous jobs. Men desperate for work demolish ships in grueling conditions, braving the threat of being crushed or stabbed by steel sliced from the hulls.

A total of 133 ships were dismantled in Turkey in 2017, including several drill ships and platforms. Although Turkish yards are preferred option for responsible ship recycling compared to South Asian yards, such as Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, they still face considerable challenges including high accident rate.

Pollutant and dangerous scrapping has been a key area of concern for Pakistani ship recycling industry. As in India and Bangladesh, the yards in Gadani operate directly on the beach, without any impermeable and drained working areas to protect the sea and sand from pollution.

Dirty and dangerous shipbreaking practices in Bangladesh have been strongly criticized both by global NGOs for many years, with marine pollution, hazardous waste dumping and unsafe working conditions, as well as the illegal exploitation of child workers, being among the key areas of concern.

The Panama Canal Authority has informed the Union de Capitanes y Oficiales de Cubierta (UCOC) in late May that it is to reduce the tug’s crew to the minimum manning established by the Panama Maritime Authority. In view of this, the ITF urged the ACP to re-evaluate the way it conducts its industrial relations.

Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is the medical term for symptoms caused by vibration damages that may occur in the fingers, hands and arms due to the use of vibrating tools or machinery. Previously, it was known as ‘vibration white finger’, however the name is changed to HAVS to reflect additional symptoms.

The Liberia-flagged 'Tintomara' was allowed to leave Australian waters, following detention earlier this week at Gladstone, over reports of crew underpayment and poor working conditions. The technical manager Fareast Shipmanagement Hongkong inked an industrial agreement with ITF on 26 February, after the allegations were confirmed.

AMSA officials were in the middle of a general inspection onboard the Liberia-flagged chemical tanker 'Tintomara', at QAL's South Trees wharf, Gladstone, when crew raised complaints about their treatment by their captain and chief officer. The complaints related to bullying, non-payment of overtime, long working hours and lack of food.