TIM eMagazine Vol.3 Issue 9
ISWAN calls
on Port of
Odessa to
reconsider
closing
Seafarer
Centre
Odessa Seamen's Club
Credits : seafarerswelfare.org
T
he seafarer centre, Odessa Seamen’s Club, closed
its doors last week after being required to move by
the port authority in Odessa. The centre has been in
the port since 1999 and was one of only two centres
remaining in Ukraine. The port authority has not pro-
vided another location for the centre inside the port.
In fact, the port has now also rescinded the passes for
the organisation so the centre staff can no longer gain
access to visit the vessels and seafarers.
Ports and states are encouraged to provide access
to welfare services and facilities under International Labour Organization
(ILO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations.
The ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (Regulation 4.4) states:
'Each Member shall ensure that shore-based welfare facilities, where
they exist, are easily accessible. The Member shall also promote the devel-
opment of welfare facilities, such as those listed in the Code, in designated
ports to provide seafarers on ships that are in its ports with access to ade-
quate welfare facilities and services.'
The IMO International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code in
section A/16.3.15 requires port facility security plans to contain procedures
for facilitating shore leave, crew changes and access for visitors including
representatives of seafarers’ welfare and labour organisations.
According to these international standards, the Seamen's Club staff
should have access to visit all ships in the ports to find out the wants and
needs of seafarers and also report annually on the number of ship visits.
Seafarer centres provide seafarers with information materials about the
country and the city, local legislation, city maps and leaflets, provide tele-
phone and internet communication, organise cultural, sport and religious
events and meetings with the local ITF inspector where needed, and
support seafarers in need (those in hospital, experiencing police conflicts,
etc.). Odessa Seamen's Club successfully provided these services – and a
lot more – for nearly twenty years. It also provided a safe space for seafar-
ers. The evidence of the above is the fact that this club was twice shortlist-
ed for the ISWAN International Seafarers' Welfare Awards 'Seafarer Centre
of the Year'.
Roger Harris, Executive Director of ISWAN, said: ‘The Odessa Seamen’s
Club was a well-visited centre run on a not-for-profit basis for the benefit of
visiting seafarers. We sincerely hope that the port authority will reconsider
its decision to close down the centre.’
https://www.seafarerswelfare.org
The IMO International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code in section A/16.3.15 requires port facility
security plans to contain procedures for facilitating shore leave, crew changes and access for visitors
including representatives of seafarers’ welfare and labour organisations.
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