ITF Gaza fund gets off to flying start

23 May 2013 -A solidarity fund launched today by the ITF to raise £40,000 to support Palestinian drivers and their union in Gaza got off to a flying start, with immediate union pledges totalling over £13,000. The ITF executive board decided to launch the fund, following calls for support to rebuild...

May 23rd, 2013 | ITF | Read More

INTERTANKO applauds IMO progress on the Ballast Water Management Convention

In line with the INTERTANKO-led joint proposal last year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed to a rescheduling of the International Ballast Water Management Convention implementation dates, which will smooth the installation scheduling for ships installing ballast water management...

May 21st, 2013 | Environment, Intertanko, News | Read More

WISTA Cyprus Statement

The following comes from Elise Croonen, WISTA’s press officer in Cyprus: On 17 May we were officially advised by the Cyprus Shipping Chamber that Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou has been elected to the Board of Directors for the years 2013 – 2015 during the Annual General Meeting on 26 April....

May 20th, 2013 | Associations, News, WISTA - Women in Shipping | Read More

Piraeus Association for Maritime Arbitration: new BoD

The new Governing Body of the Piraeus Association for Maritime Arbitration, elected on the Annual General Board Meeting, consists of : President:Georgakopoulos Charalampos Vice President:Rakintzis Leandros Secretary General:Pournara – Vardavilia Jenny Treasurer:Pentheroudakis Nick Member:Tsavdaridis...

May 20th, 2013 | Associations | Read More

Dry Bulk Shipowners, Cargo Interests and the Environment to Benefit from IMO Decision on Reception Facilities

Shipowners pleas for greater clarity on what to do when there are no adequate port reception facilities to receive residues including Hold Washing Water (HWW) from cargoes deemed “Harmful to the Marine Environment” (HME), have been substantially answered after an important decision at the IMO Marine...

May 18th, 2013 | Intercargo | Read More

Baltic dockers’ unions learning from each other on social dialogue

Promoting social dialogue in Estonian ports has been the focus this week of a seminar at the Port of Muuga. It’s the first event of its kind and has been centered on the joint working of ITF and ETF affiliates, the Estonian Seaman’s Independent Union (ESIU) with their Baltic colleagues at the Norwegian...

May 17th, 2013 | ITF | Read More

ITF calls for urgent investigation into THY ‘missing crew’ claims

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) is calling on international aviation authorities to investigate allegations that Turkish Airlines (THY) is playing with safety by flying airplanes with insufficient or unqualified crew in order to get around a strike by THY workers protesting at...

May 17th, 2013 | Dialogs and Debates, ITF | Read More

Women transport workers call for end to violence

Delegates at the ITF’s Asia Pacific Women’s Conference 13 May 2013 – The ITF’s Asia Pacific Women’s Conference concluded Sunday 12th May in Hong Kong, with a call to support the ITF Women’s Committee campaign to end violence against women in the workplace and at home....

May 13th, 2013 | HR, ITF | Read More

Vahed urges May Day workers’ rights protests

Ebrahim Madadi ITF affiliate the Syndicate of Workers of Tehran and Suburban Bus Company (Vahed Syndicate) marked May Day in Tehran by calling on all Iranian workers and their unions to protest against workers’ rights violations in Iran. In a statement issued on 29 April, the Vahed Syndicate blamed...

May 12th, 2013 | ITF, Labour Disputes, Politics and Government | Read More

Black Sea action to target ‘sea of shame’

Steve Cotton The ITF and its affiliated maritime unions in Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine will be exposing substandard working conditions and fighting for improved safety in what they have described as the ‘Black Sea of shame’, next week, from 13 to 15 May. The Black Sea is...

May 12th, 2013 | ITF, Labour Disputes, News, Safety and Security | Read More

Growth and expanding horizons as the AAA welcomes new members

Keith Jones welcoming Amy O’Neill as a Fellow of the Association of Average Adjusters. She is one of only two female Fellows. GROWTH AND EXPANDING HORIZONS AS THE ASSOCIATION OF AVERAGE ADJUSTERS WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS The Association of Average Adjusters (AAA) reported a successful year at its annual...

May 9th, 2013 | Associations, Marine Insurance | Read More

Hong Kong port strike is over

7 May 2013 -Workers fighting for improved pay and decent working conditions at the Port of Hong Kong have voted to call off their industrial action after accepting an improved wage offer and promises of further negotiations on working conditions – as well as an assurance that there will be no retaliation...

May 7th, 2013 | ITF, Ports & Terminals | Read More

National Express Group’s US ‘human rights’ record under renewed fire at AGM

National Express Group’s US ‘human rights’ record under renewed fire at AGM 6 May 2013 – Further evidence has emerged that National Express Group is pushing human rights in its North American operations to the limit on the eve of its London AGM on 9 May. Representatives of the US-based...

May 6th, 2013 | HR, ITF, Labour Disputes | Read More

ITF: Port of Vancouver ‘needs solution’

Steve Cotton Commenting on developments in the Port of Vancouver, Washington, USA, ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) acting general secretary Steve Cotton said: “The lockout of workers by Mitsui-United Grain will soon be entering its tenth week. The company choice of this tactic...

May 4th, 2013 | ITF, News | Read More

InterManager discussion reveals lifeboat hook concerns

Captain Kuba Szymnski Lifeboat hooks can be “lethal” and their design is out of date and unsuitable to meet modern demands, according to serving seafarers whose views have been gathered by InterManager. Following a series of incidents and fatalities involving lifeboat hooks, InterManager, the...

May 3rd, 2013 | Intermanager | Read More

Rail union and international organisations launch Thai government complaint

2 May 2013 – The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), its affiliated union the State Railway Workers’ Union of Thailand (SRUT), the Thai State Enterprises Workers’ Relations Confederation (SERC), and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) have joined together to...

May 2nd, 2013 | ITF | Read More

ITF statement on Qatar’s ICAO relocation bid

David Cockroft Commenting on the Qatari government’s reported bid to have the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) headquarters relocated from Canada to the country’s capital, Doha, ITF general secretary David Cockroft said: “This defies belief. ICAO is the lead body for civil aviation...

May 1st, 2013 | ITF | Read More

Shipowners and Unions raise concerns at casualty reporting failures

Peter Hinchliffe Shipowners and seafarers’ unions have joined forces to express concern at flag states’ failure to submit maritime casualty reports as required under international Conventions. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which represents 80% of the world merchant fleet, and the...

April 23rd, 2013 | Associations | Read More

Twentieth Association Accredited to FONASBA Quality Standard

Marygrace Collins FONASBA’s Quality Standard for Ship Brokers and Ship Agents reached a significant milestone last week when APRAM, the Federation’s Moroccan member association, became the twentieth to be accredited to the programme. Welcoming APRAM to the Quality Standard, FONASBA President Marygrace...

April 23rd, 2013 | Associations, News | Read More

Unions look ahead at West Africa road transport seminars

Seminar participants talking to truck drivers in Cotonou, Benin. Road transport workers from across West Africa recently came together in Cotonou, Benin to discuss common challenges and develop a strategy for change. From 8-10 April the first implementation seminar for the ITF/SASK road transport corridors...

April 21st, 2013 | ITF | Read More

ITF statement on Venezuelan elections

David Cockroft 18 April 2013 – The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), representing around 700 unions with over 4.5 million members insome 150 countries, today called for the democratic electoral processes in Venezuela to be respected. The ITF welcomed the election on...

April 18th, 2013 | ITF | Read More

Nigerian ships risk detention under new enforcement law

Nigeria Ships: No more favourable treatment under MLC, 2006 - By Michael Eboh According to Vanguard, effective from August 20,2013, Nigerian ships and vessels are at risk of being detained in other countries and the owners of the ships fined as the International Labour Organisation, ILO, begins the...

April 16th, 2013 | Associations | Read More

WISTA-Cyprus president nominated for CSC’s BOD

WISTA-Cyprus president Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou Today it was announced that WISTA Cyprus President Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou is the first woman to be nominated for a position on the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber. Despina is the Chief Financial and Operations Officer of Tototheo...

April 16th, 2013 | Associations, People and Places, WISTA - Women in Shipping | Read More

ITF criticises Irish inaction over fisher safety

The ITF has deplored the Irish government’s failure to take steps to prevent deaths in the fishing industry. It criticised Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTS) minister Leo Varadkar and Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI) minister Richard Bruton for failing to put in place...

April 14th, 2013 | ITF | Read More

Cyprus Shipping Continues to Support the Economy

Capt. Eugen Adami, the President of Cyprus Shipping Council Two weeks after the Eurogroup Loan Agreement proposal for Cyprus was formulated on 24 March and despite some temporary banking restrictions still applied which are gradually being eased up, Cyprus Shipping continues its high standard and reliable...

April 12th, 2013 | Associations, What Others Say | Read More