THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSFORT WORKERS' FEDERATION (1.7.F.)
On the 14th January 1972 it was reported in Lloyd's List, a U.K. shipping journal, that the I.T.F. intended taking "new and vigorous action on the problem of flags of convenience, including setting up a team of inspectors at 10 key ports to examine safety and employment conditions on board ship". This move followed a meeting by the I.T.F.'e Fair Practices Committee held in London on the 11/12th January 1972. The committee, including representatives of seamen's and dockers' unions from leading maritime nations, appears to have decided to "pay particular attention to the use by shipowners of new registries of convenience and the growing practice of employing "crews of convenience" on traditional maritime vessels.
2.
A copy of the document issued by the I.T.F., following this Fair Practices Committee meeting, is attached as Annexure 'A'.
3.
Annexure 'A' contains some interesting items of information as under.
(1) This "inspection" service would be financed by the
I.T.F.'s Seafarers' International Assistance, Welfare and Protection Fund which would contribute £1,000 per year to each of the 10 union officials who would carry out this work at the 10 key ports, to offcet part of these officials' costs. That is, the I.T.F. will contribute £10,000 per year from a seafarers' assistance, welfare and protection fund to check on ship safety matters which are the concern of maritime Governments.
(ii)
These "inspectors" may be unqualified persons to pronounce on the seaworthiness of vessels or the adequacy or condition of safety equipment. In this, the "inspectors" would seek guidance from the crew of the ship concerned, and, where there was any doubt, the "inspector" would then call upon the service of a ship surveyor of his country's ship inspection service. Any costs involved with a survey carried out by a ship surveyor would be met by the owner or the I.T.F., depending on the result of the survey.
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