The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have teamed up and developed new steering to stop bullying and harassment on-board ships.

The Guidance on Eliminating Shipboard Harassment and Bullying supplies recommendation to delivery corporations, seafarers and seafarers’ organizations on insurance policies, complaints and grievance procedures to fight bullying and harassment.

These tips have been launched previous to International Labor Organization (ILO) Special Tripartite Committee on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) to be held in February in Geneva.

The new guidelines handle the tasks of seafarers and their employers to make use of these procedures appropriately and for being conscious of any harassment or bullying which may happen throughout the maritime office. This contains any situations of cyber-bullying.

“Ship-owners fully accept the need to develop policies and plans to eliminate any harassment and bullying as a matter of good employment practice. Bullying has serious consequences for the physical and emotional health of seafarers and can also compromise teamwork with negative consequences for the safety of the ship and its crew. The fact that ICS and ITF have collaborated to produce this new Guidance is therefore a very positive development,” ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe acknowledged.

Writing by Nadeem (c) gCaptain