|
The introduction of draconian
restrictions on shore leave for
seafarers in the US has drawn a howl
of protest from shipping
organizations worldwide.
The industry organizations feel the
new requirement by the US on new
visa, shipboard security and
fingerprinting regulations in the US
is expected to curtail foreign
crews' ability to go ashore during
port calls, and have significant
cost implications for owners of
foreign-flag merchant tonnage.
The group, which includes the Baltic
International Maritime Organisation,
the International Chamber of
Shipping, Intertanko, Intercargo and
the International Shipping
Federation, have expressed deep
concern over the yet-another
unilateral move by US in its global
maritime security initiatives.
The organizations pushing are
pressing for urgent talks with the
US Immigration and Naturalisation
Service to discuss policies that
have made ship crews "the
indiscriminate scapegoat in the
fight against terrorism".
The joint action follows a growing
number of complaints of crews being
detained on board at US harbours on
the basis of their nationality, and
policies on armed guards that differ
from one port to another.
A letter from Bimco secretary
general Truls L'orange to INS
Commissioner James Ziglar said the
crew detention policies are "unfair
and discriminatory".
The letter has been endorsed by the
other four leading organisations and
will be circulated to "other
maritime organisations and
government agencies", requesting
their support.
"A ship is a confined space and crew
have traditionally been entitled to
shore leave," L'orange said.
"Whilst certain circumstances
warrant limitations on their
movements, restrictionsshould only
be implemented when a real threat
exists.
"Unfortunately, crews have been
detained often on the sole basis of
their nationality and in the absence
of information indicating a real or
imminent threat to the port and its
surroundings."
L'orange said that "September 11 has
changed the way in which
international commerce would
function", but added significant
progress has been made at
international fora such as the
International Maritime Organisation
and the International Labour
Organisation to regulate ship safety
and crew rights, often with the
active participation of the US.
The letter says the policy of armed
guards "seems unclear, and is
carried out on an ad hoc and
inconsistent basis". |
