The Flag of Convenience Action Week will be held at the Kochi port from September 26-30 by the Seafarers and Dockers Unions, representing the Cochin Port Staff Association, National Union of Seafarers of India,

Forward Seamen Union of India and Maritime Union of India to fight against the continued growth of Flag of Convenience (FoC) and substandard shipping at the instance of International Transport Workers Federation.

Global campaign

The Week of Action is a part of an ongoing global campaign by the ITF, particularly in Indian and Sri Lankan Ports to highlight the dangers posed by FoC vessels to the seafarers and the oceans they sail through.

This year the ITF had directed to organise the FoC WOA in a staggered manner.

It is considered that staggered FoC Week of Action will help to involve more affiliates and activists, sent message to ship owners and agents, can share more knowledge and experience, can utilise the services of experienced inspectors from other ports and to increase results by signing more ITF-approved agreements for FoC vessels.

Mr Thomas Sebastian, Senior Vice-President of the Cochin Port Staff Association said that the three Southern Ports of India, Kochi, Tuticorin, Chennai and Colombo at Sri Lanka will go in to organise staggered FoC WOA to wrest and promote Seafarers and Dockers rights.

The unions were of the view that the coordinated action of various stakeholders such as port state control, shipping and crewing agents, port authorities and trade unions can effectively control the menace of substandard Shipping and establish minimum labour standards on board vessels, he said.

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