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The proposed requirement by the US on new visa, shipboard security and fingerprinting regulations in the US are 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 new laws have evoked strong protests from the industry which include an emergency motion passed by the International Transport Workers' Federation congress in Vancouver criticising the plans, but added that it was unlikely to pursue "megaphone diplomacy" to oppose the measures.
The union has chosen instead to lobby through existing open channels with Washington and maintain a watching brief on the impact of the measures after they come into force next year.
The US Department of State has proposed the elimination of crew list visas for foreign mariners.
The law is expected to be in force by spring next year, after ratification by the Office of Management & Budget and a mandatory comment period of 30-60 days.
At present, shipowners can obtain such a visa from an overseas US consular station for the entire crew of an incoming ship.
The impending elimination of this facility is made even more potent by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service's so-called "detain on board" policy, which is understood to have begun in New Orleans this month and is spreading to other harbours around other the United States.
Under this policy, the INS compares the crew names listed on manifests that owners must file 96 hours before arrival against a database of names that are supposed to be national security risks.
Crew members whose names "match" against the database cannot go ashore, irrespective of whether they carry a US visa.
The ITF said the amendments to visa requirements in the US, could adversely impact on the employment of some seafarers, based on their nationality, and reduce seafarers' opportunities for shore leave.
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