Port Of Dover Refuses Welfare Check Onboard P&O Ferries: ITF Seafarers
Officials at the Port of Dover the other day rejected accessibility to ITF Inspectors that existed in order to examine well-being problems that had actually been increased by substitute team participants aboard P&O Ferries’ vessels in the port. ITF Inspectors have ISPS (International Ship and also Port Facility Security) code clearance, which allows them to get in all UK ports and also board all vessels in UK waters where seafarers demand help.
Despite emailing in advance as a politeness and also finishing the on-line protection program needed, the Port Police rejected the examiners gain access to on the day, on the basis that they had no advancement caution of the examiners’ browse through. The examiners are not required to offer previous caution to ports or vessel proprietors of approaching brows through to examine vessels or examine misuse of seafarers’ civil liberties.
The examiners state that the port authorities telephoned P&O Ferries while the examiners existed, waiting for a choice on their gain access to. One of the examiners, Tommy Molloy, commented that: “As an ITF Inspector in the UK for 17 years this is the first time I have been refused access to a UK port to investigate crew welfare issues.”
“Experience shows us that if non-compliant employers are tipped off to our inspections, often crew members get threatened and incriminating documentation goes missing. Our inspections are random by nature and by necessity.”
ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton claimed: “P&O Ferries have shown that they have no regard for the law, it’s staggering that the Port of Dover would prevent access to ITF Inspectors who are simply there to check on crew welfare and the safety of the ships.”
“ITF Inspectors across the world are at the frontline of protecting safety standards for seafarers and the vessels they crew. We have grave reservations about why they would be denied access, especially following MCA detentions related to safety concerns and crew familiarity of the vessels.”
“We call on the Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps to find answers as to why our inspectors were blocked, and give a commitment that it won’t happen again,” claimed Cotton.
The ITF has actually informed the UK Maritime and also Coastguard Agency regarding the event as an offense of the ISPS Code.
Reference: itfseafarers.org
