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In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
- Worldwide – IMO welcomes landmark Maritime Labour Convention ratifications
- Angola, Luanda – Street clashes following march
- Angola, Soyo – Port dredging operations continue
DATE: August 21, 2012 – COUNTRY: Worldwide – IMO welcomes landmark Maritime Labour Convention ratifications
IMO has welcomed the landmark ratifications of the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s Maritime Labour Convention, which will bring the treaty into force in 12 months’ time, establishing minimum requirements for almost all aspects of working conditions for seafarers.
“This is great news for the world’s more than 1.2 million seafarers, ” said Dr. Rosalie Balkin, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), ILO’s sister UN agency, which has responsibility for maritime safety and security, the prevention of marine pollution from ships and seafarer training standards….
….The MLC Convention covers conditions of employment, hours of work and rest, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection. Parties to the treaty must ensure that ships flying their flag meet the ‘decent work’ requirements set out in the Convention, and certify that those ships comply with the requirements relating to labour conditions. IMO’s STCW Convention was revised in 2010 and includes mirror provisions to the MLC requirements on such issues as hours of work and rest, where the two treaties overlap.
The recent ratification of the MLC by the Russian Federation and the Republic of the Philippines fulfils the requirement that at least 30 ILO member countries ratify the Convention. The other requirement – that ratifying countries represent 33% of the world’s gross shipping tonnage – was met in 2009. The 30 countries represent nearly 60% of the shipping tonnage. This means that seafarers working on more than 50% of the world’s international shipping will be covered by the new ILO Convention….
(For information about operations around the world contact the respective GAC office. Details may be found in the “Contact” section of www.gac.com)
Source: Extracts from International Maritime Organisation (www.imo.org) Briefing No.32 dated 21 August 2012
DATE: August 21, 2012 – COUNTRY: Angola – PORT: Luanda – Street clashes following march
Serious clashes between police and members of the FNLA party are being reported in the streets of northern Luanda, following a protest march this morning (21 August).
For information about operations in Angola contact GAC Angola at angola@gac.com
DATE: August 21, 2012 – COUNTRY: Angola – PORT: Soyo – Port dredging operations continue
Dredging operations are continuing this week (20-26 August 2012) at the Angolan port of Kwanda.
The Volvox Olympia is dredging in the Channel Entrance and the first part of the LNG Turning Basin. The area between buoy 14/LNG pier/LPG pier/buoy 10 of the LNG Turning Basin and Kwanda Base Basin has been completed.
Meanwhile, Crane Barge Johanna I is grab dredging in front of the 1A-1W area, and two SMIT-pontoons (10 & 14) are moored in front of the 1A-1W area.
For information about operations in Angola contact GAC Angola at angola@gac.com
