Seafarers should have the same sort of working conditions and welfare rights as people who work ashore, UK shipping minister Nusrat Ghani said during a meeting at the Houses of Parliament on 16 January.
Speaking at the launch of the Apostleship of the Sea’s Life at Sea report, the minister mentioned that it is crucial to establish a working environment in which seafarers feel valued and able to give their best.
I believe it is critical that those who work at sea have comparable employment, social and welfare rights to those on land
To support such principles, UK is planning to extend National Minimum Wage legislation to all mariners on all vessels in UK territorial waters.
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Ms. Ghani also noted her concerns about the high rate of suicide among seafarers and the role that fatigue may play in this. She specifically said that fatigue is a key concern for the UK, so the country has developed a three-pronged strategy through culture change, enforcement of regulations and education.
The Apostleship of the Sea’s report sheds light on the continued importance of ship visiting services and pastoral care for crews, with details of cases involving abandonment, non-payment of wages, stress and mental health problems, bullying and harassment, medical emergencies, and refusal of shore leave.
Key points in the report include:
- 15% of deaths at sea are by suicide;
- More than one-third of seafarers say they have no one to talk to onboard;
- More than 1,300 seafarers were abandoned between 2012 and 2016;
- The number of seafarers taken hostage has increased by 62% over the past year.
