International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)

ITF Flag of Convenience Campaign Australia's 'Nowhere to Hide' week of action has been a huge success, with notable wins including, crew repatriation, back pay and gaining a promotion for a cadet on a bulk carrier!

ITF is urgently seeking repatriation of seafarers abandoned in the Yemeni city of Hodeidah which was targeted by Israeli airstrikes on Saturday. Sixteen seafarers from Syria and India are stranded in the city. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has already supported eight Syrian seafarers in disembarking and finding refuge in a hotel. It is now working to ensure the eight seafarers who remain trapped on the ship – the ‘Captain Tarek’ – can also disembark and be repatriated to India. ITF Flags of Convenience Network Coordinator for the Arab World and Iran, Mohamed Arrachedi, said: “These seafarers are facing a truly horrific situation as they and their families fear for their lives after being shamelessly abandoned in a war zone. “We have been in contact with all the seafarers throughout this situation. They witnessed the airstrikes first-hand and are understandably traumatised and desperate to return home to be reunited with their families. “The ITF is doing all it can to support these seafarers, and we are currently evaluating what legal support we can offer to help the seafarers to recover their outstanding wages. We urgently call on the ship’s owners and all parties with interest in and obligations to the ship and the crew to do everything they can to get these seafarers back home.” The seafarers took this photo of the airstrikes, showing just how close they were to danger:

ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton was in attendance at the President of the Philippines’ State of the Nation address in Manila. Cotton used the opportunity to promote transport workers rights and highlight the need for a worker led just transition. Pictured below with Raymund Mendoza, Deputy Speaker of the House of the Representatives, Congressman of the Trade Union Congress of The Philippines and Martin Romualdez, Speaker of the House.

No employment contracts, food storage freezers all at above 0°c, the stench of rotten meat, a bug infestation, broken sanitation facilities – these are some of the inhuman conditions seafarers face aboard the general cargo vessel, the Serafina. But after being boarded by ITF Inspector Assaf Hader the vessel has now been detained by Israeli maritime authorities. https://lnkd.in/ecweb2zX

ITF's Mediterranean Sea of Convenience Campaign continues standing up for seafarers. Croatian ITF inspectors regularly carry out inspections of substandard ships arriving in Albania under flags covered by the "Mediterranean Sea of Convenience" campaign. Many of these ships have been banned from entering European Union ports due to deficiencies, and the port of Durres is becoming a hub for such ships from Arab countries en route to the Black Sea and Turkey. The ships mainly carry cement, scrap metal, and timber. ITF inspectors have also found many deficiencies on board. Due to these ships being over 50 years old, they often don't have functional air conditioning units, resulting in temperatures above 36°C. Poor maintenance of the ships is common, and other major problems include inaccurate calculation of seafarers' working hours, low wages, and poor seafaring practices of the crew and owners. "The conditions on these ships are unacceptable. Seafarers are exposed to extreme temperatures, poor working conditions, and health and safety hazards. These ships are a symbol of seafarer exploitation and unacceptable maritime practices. We work to disclose and prevent these ships from sailing Mediterranean waters and ensure seafarers work in decent conditions" - ITF coordinator Romano Peric.

An ITF investigation has uncovered credible and public claims of forced labour and human trafficking in the UK fishing industry, which ultimately leads to scampi caught under these conditions ending up on UK plates. “We want to see UK scampi on our plates – but we must ensure that it is both sustainable and caught by workers whose rights are respected." - ITF Fisheries expert Chris Williams.

The GMB union has narrowly lost its historic bid for union recognition at the Amazon warehouse in Coventry. Some 49.5% of workers balloted voted in favour, while 50.5% voted against. The fight for better conditions for all warehouse workers continues.

Concerning news. The 16-strong crew of a Comoros-flagged oil tanker that capsized off Oman are still missing, the country's maritime security centre said on Tuesday, a day after the sinking was reported. The crew of "Prestige Falcon" is comprised of 13 Indian nationals and three Sri Lankans. Our thoughts are with the missing seafarers and their families. Story: https://lnkd.in/gdhfSEsB

Don't look down! An entry to ITF's photography competition showing a seafarer greasing the ships cable crane, taken by Rey Kenn J. Caldea. https://lnkd.in/eRqJdE2m

Positive action works. The crews on five Hafnia ships are now made up of at least 50% women and moves to improve seafarers conditions on board serve as a model for the next generation of cargo ships. Story: https://lnkd.in/eYsXre3R