I was also instructed by the Committed to take what steps were necessary to implement the Committee's ducinion. order to do so and to facilitate the operation of the service wo wish to establish, we give below the ITT definition of a flag of convenience.
"Where in the case of vessels sailing under the flare of countries which are not considered to be traditional maritime countries, the ownership and control of the vessel is found to lie elsewhere than in the country of the flag the vessel is flying, it is to be considered as sailing under a flag of convenience",
At the same time we would remind affiliates of the problem of the employment of crews of convenience which also con- stitutes a serious threat to the standards of seafarers of traditional maritime countries. The ITF will attomat to keep affiliates informed of developments in this field and, where such vessels are encountered, attempts should be made, (except in the case of flag of convenience vessels) to secure for the crews the wages and conditions of employment applicable to seafarers in the country of the flag the vessel is flying, where such wages and conditions are of a higher standard than those applying in the ship. In the case of flag of convenience vessels, a sub-committee of the Fair Practices Committee is preparing an agreement which could be used as a custodian agreement for vessels in which the crew is not surving under a satisfactory collective agree- mont. Details of this and other agreements, i.c., Welfare Fund and membership of the Special Seafarers' Section of the ITF will be sent to affiliates as soon as agreement on seconding an officiel is reached.
I am now writing to certain affiliates enquiring whether their organizations would be willing and able to second an official to work on the lines outlined above. Immediately the inspection service is established, further information will be sent to all seafarer and docker affiliates.
Finally, I would urgently ask for the cooperation of all affiliates and request them to emphasise on every nessible occasion that our aims are to prevent the exploitation of scamen, encourage shipowners to register their vessels under their own national flags, to prevent unfair competition and further to enhance safety of life at sea.
Yours fraternally,
Cl
C. H. BLYTH
General Secretary
I man and
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.