InterManager speaks out against seafarer criminalisation

Addressing delegates at the Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting at the IMO in London on 25 March, InterManager Secretary General Elect Kuba Szymanski demanded to know: “Why should a seafarer be treated differently and penalised for acts that have nothing to do with criminal negligence?”

InterManager, which was represented by a delegation of six representatives, told the meeting: “InterManager believes these practices have an extremely damaging and dangerous effect on the shipping industry.” They pointed out that the criminalisation of seafarers directly contrasts with the STW Sub-Committee’s call to ship owners, managers and flag states to do more to encourage young people to consider a career at sea and to work harder to retain existing seafarers.

“To suppose that professional seafarers can be detained without trial is a disproportionate response not justified in maritime law and totally at odds with such responses in all other professions, where an unintentional incident is treated as such and does not lead to criminal sanctions.

Seafarers continue to be penalised for acts that have nothing to do with criminal negligence.”

“InterManager would like to appeal to the honourable delegates to raise this issue at home and make the difference now – seafarers are not guilty unless proven so,” he concluded.