The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has successfully supported the crew in three ship abandonment cases in UK waters that show a culture close to modern day slavery in some parts of the shipping industry, 20 July 2017

...ITF seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel [commented], “The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and UK Border Force deserve recognition for their efforts to enforce regulation intended to maintain decent standards for all seafarers – action by the flag state has yet to be seen. It’s also disappointing to see the reluctance of the P&I club to step up and pay out under the requirements that came into force in January this year under the amended Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.  We are closely monitoring the operation of these provisions ahead of our reporting on them to the ILO (International Labour Organization) and IMO (International Maritime Organization).  What these cases reveal is a tendency to take the word of the owners at face value and ignore both the evidence onboard and the fact that this insurance was specifically designed to allow direct access to seafarers and their representatives. This cannot be tolerated.”  The three cases all involve one owner, Voda Shipping of Istanbul, Turkey. They are the Reggae in Port of Leith, Scotland; Tahsin in Sharpness, England; and Seccadi in Ellesmere Port, England...