Day Of The Seafarer 2018 On 25 June

#Support Seafarers’ Wellbeing
#DayoftheSeafarer

Studies conducted recently have put seafarers as the second most at risk profession when it comes to mental health (suicide to be specific). Hence, #SupportSeafarersWellbeing has been chosen as the theme for this year #Dayof the Seafarer by IMO. Being one of the vital parts of this maritime industry, we would like to share few tips on how to improve good mental health while being on board:

1. Talk about your feelings. Have courage and take initiative to talk about your feelings. it's a sign that you're taking charge of your well-being.

2. Care for others. Just as how you want to be heard.

3. Keep active.

4. Eat well and drink sensibly.

5. Keep a diary.

6. Ask for help. seafarer Help is available 24/7 for you. it is a free, confidential, and multilingual helpline not only for you the seafarers but your families too! 

7. Take a deep breath and rest. make sure that you have goo quality sleep.

8. Do something you're good at. Cound't fine one? Create one!

Herewith we would like to share the message from IMO Secretary-General's Mr. Kitack Lim.

Sale Ship to Pay Seafarer’s Lien

The Oceanco build has been held under a maritime lien since it was arrested in March and is now being ordered for sale…

By decree of the Civil Court (First Hall) of Malta on 14 May 2018, the 95m Oceanco-built motoryacht, Indian Empress, will be auctioned for sale at the Courts of Justice in Valetta on Monday 21 May at 12pm noon, on the application of Melita Power Diesel.

The Indian owner of the Isle of Man-flagged superyacht, Vijay Mallya, whose business endeavours include the Force India Formula One team and Kingfisher Airlines, was arrested in London on 3 October at the request of the Indian government, which asked for his extradition to stand trial over an alleged debt of more than 90 billion rupees (£1 billion).

As such, Indian Empress has been completely abandoned since September 2017, leaving the 40-person crew with months of unpaid wages. By the time the yacht was impounded in Malta in March 2018, the crew was owed over $1 million in unpaid wages, with individuals owed anything between $6,250 to more than $92,000.

Representing some of the affected crewmembers was the maritime professionals’ union, Nautilus International, which was instrumental in having the vessel arrested. Nautilus made use of the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) to secure a payment of $615,000 for the crew via Norwegian protection and indemnity insurance specialist, Skuld, however there remain arrears.

The yacht has been held under a maritime lien since March while Nautilus sought the payment of outstanding wages and other costs over and above the amounts covered by the MLC financial security provisions. The lien has provided the crew with claim over the vessel to the value of the debt owed, but with the owner having ignored multiple requests to settle the debts, the yacht will now be auctioned by the Courts of Justice.

A source close to both SuperyachtNews and Indian Empress said that the crew has been ‘really suffering’ during this tumultuous period and is ‘thrilled’ that the formerly prolific charter boat is up for auction.

Source : SuperyachtNews 

ILO: Seafarers to continue receiving wages if held by pirates

Seafarers held captive as a result of an act of piracy or armed robbery against ships will continue to receive their wages and entitlements during their period of captivity under amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended (MLC, 2006) adopted by the Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC, 2006 at a recent meeting at the ILO in Geneva. The amendments will be submitted for approval at the 28 May-8 June, 2018 International Labour Conference. ‘Tripartism and social dialogue played a key role in the process of adoption of the amendments,’ said Corinne Vargha, Director of the ILO’s International Labour Department. 

World Maritime University President Cleopatra  Doumbia-Henry, a former ILO official, also welcomed the amendments. ‘These amendments have an important significance in terms of the legal certainty that they provide and also the protection they extend to seafarers and their families when faced with the most horrid of crimes in today’s modern world,’ she said. The text adopted at the third meeting of the Committee states, among others: ‘Where a seafarer is held captive on or off the ship as a result of acts of piracy or armed robbery against ships, wages and other entitlements under the seafarers’ employment agreement, relevant collective bargaining agreement or applicable national laws,’ shall continue to be paid. The MLC, 2006 has been ratified by 86 countries covering around 90 per cent of the world fleet.

Source: ILO (International Labour Organization)

ISWAN Awards 2015

The headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was the scene for this weeks 2015 International Seafarers' Welfare (ISWAN) Awards, funded by a grant from the ITF Seafarers' Trust and this year additionally headline sponsored by Inmarsat. 

The award ceremony was hosted by Secretary General of the IMO, Mr Koji Sekimizu, and, at an event dedicated to honouring organisations and individuals which have excelled at providing assistance to the merchant marine maritime community, Mr Sekimizu said:

“[The awards are] an excellent initiative to recognize excellence in the provision of welfare facilities and services for seafarers all over the world. I hope these awards will raise the profile of seafarers' welfare and encourage others to examine and improve their performance".

This year’s winners are:

• Judges' Special Award : Rev'd Ken Peters, Mission to Seafarers Director of Justice and Public Affairs

• Judges' Posthumous Award: Mr Paul Karras, founder of Hunterlink Recovery Services

• Shipping Company of the Year: Eidesvik

• Port of the Year: Port of Halifax, Canada

• Seafarer Centre of the Year: Seafarers' Centre Bremerhaven, Germany

• Dr Dierk Lindemann Welfare Personality of the Year Award (organisation): National Union of Seafarers of India

To read the full article [click here]