Nautilus International has expressed its strong support after the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) called for governments and industry to use the next 12 months to rebuild trust and agree on a fair, practical, and seafarer-focused approach to decarbonising shipping.
The ITF statement comes in the wake of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) decision on 17 October to delay a vote on its Net-Zero Framework for one year. The framework had been expected to outline key measures for implementing the IMO’s 2023 greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy, including timelines and obligations for industry stakeholders.
Responding to the postponement, ITF Seafarers’ Section coordinator Fabrizio Barcellona acknowledged the complexity of the decisions facing the sector, but warned that action must not stall.
‘While this delay reflects the complexity and importance of the decisions ahead, the process of decarbonising shipping cannot wait – and it cannot succeed without seafarers,’ Barcellona said.
‘Seafarers and the industry are already moving ahead, operating new and cleaner vessels and developing the skills that will power the maritime transition. This work cannot and will not stop.’
Nautilus International’s head of international relations, Danny McGowan, welcomed the ITF’s intervention and reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to a just transition for seafarers.
‘Seafarers are central to the success of any maritime decarbonisation strategy, yet all too often they are an afterthought in policymaking,’ he said. ‘Nautilus fully supports the ITF’s call for a practical and fair path forward that puts the needs, safety, and expertise of seafarers at the heart of the process. Governments and industry must take this opportunity to work together – with seafarers – for a Just Transition: a sustainable future for shipping that leaves no maritime professional behind.’
The Nautilus Federation created the Mapping Our Maritime Future report to help the industry understand the views and concerns of seafarers and their representatives regarding decarbonisation, automation and new fuels. Read the full report here
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