Fair Treatment & Criminalisation

INTRODUCTION
Hardly a week goes by without news of a ship being detained following an accident. When investigations take place, many shipping companies hide behind flags of convenience and complex ownership and management structures, and it is often seafarers who become the 'scapegoat'.

Every country has their own judicial system and therefore many seafarers could be unfairly criminalised or subject to harsh treatment.

REASON FOR CAMPAIGN
There is a growing number of cases in which seafarers have been detained or unfairly penalised by relevant authorities. Such incidents can have a very detrimental effect on the mental and physical health of maritime professionals, and undermine the efforts to recruit and retain skilled and experienced personnel.

ACTION
The Union is constantly working with international organisations and governments to improve and increase the legal protection of seafarers in order to reduce incidents of unfair treatment and/or criminalisation. A key priority is the implementation of the IMO/ILO guidelines on the fair treatment of seafarers following maritime incidents.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
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