ISWAN Calls On Port Of Odessa To Reconsider Closing Seafarer Centre

The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) calls on the Port of Odessa to reconsider its decision to close down its seafarer centre.

The 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 provided 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 In fact, the port has now also rescinded the passes for the organisation so the centre staff can no longer gain access to visit the vessels and seafarers.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 development 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 adequate 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 telephone 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 seafarers. The evidence of the above is the fact that this club was twice shortlisted 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.’

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