About AOS
About seafarers
Seafarers and the British economy
95% of the weight of British visible trade is carried by sea making merchant shipping vital to the British economy.
According to the Chamber of Shipping, the British maritime sector has an annual turnover of £37 billion, more than the British agriculture and aerospace industries combined. Britain has the largest maritime sector in Europe, directly employing 250,000 people with as many jobs again relying indirectly on shipping.
Figures from the Department for Trade show that some 150,000 merchant ships visit British ports every year bringing us 354 million tonnes of goods and commodities. As the British Chamber of Shipping website claims:
“Without shipping, the import/export of affordable food and goods would not be possible - half the world would starve and the other half would freeze!”
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Seafarers, an international community
The International Chamber of Shipping estimates that there are over one million merchant seafarers currently at sea. They originate from all over the world. However globalisation means that seafarers are now most likely to be recruited in countries where labour is cheap. Around 20% of the world’s seafarers come from the Philippines alone. China, India and certain Eastern European countries are also significant maritime labour supply nations.
click here to read about the world’s merchant fleet on the AOS international website
Economic pressures
In recent years, automation of many aspects of ship operation has led to crew reductions. With as few crew as possible to handle a ship, individual seafarers must accept greater levels of responsibility. In British ports, technology and increasing containerisation has led to a steep decline in the numbers of dock workers. When in port, seafarers often take part in the discharging of cargo.
Economic pressures mean that ships spend as little time as possible in port, often less than twelve hours. Modern ports are places of heavy machinery designed for handling cargo and situated some distance from town centres. With limited time ashore, it can be difficult for seafarers to find opportunities for shopping, relaxation and communicating with home.
Challenging conditions
The nature of their profession means that seafarers are separated from home and community for long periods. For British seafarers, the average length of a voyage is four to six months. For seafarers from the Philippines and other parts of the world, it is nine to twelve months.
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click here to read about Filipino seafarers on the AOS international website
Health and safety onboard
"Trawler fishing and merchant seafaring are still the two most dangerous occupations in Britain."
Dr Stephen Roberts, “Hazardous occupations in Great Britain” The Lancet: Vol. 360, Issue 9332, August 2002
The unique challenges of working at sea make it an exceptionally dangerous profession. Harsh weather conditions, long hours and minimal manning levels combine with the psychological pressures of loneliness and isolation.
“We know from investigations by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, that when accidents do happen, their causes can often be traced back to people.”
Marine and Coastguard Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2005-6
The Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is responsible for safety at sea on behalf of the British government. Its role includes co-ordinating search and rescue at sea and ensuring that all ships which enter British waters meet national and international safety regulations.
In November 2006, the MCA published the results of a six year study into the hours worked by seafarers. Of the 1,800 seafarers interviewed, nearly half had working weeks in excess of 85 hours. Half agreed that their working hours put their lives in danger. 37% said that working long hours posed a danger to the safety of their ship. The MCA concluded that
“Fatigue at sea has been identified as a significant safety issue.”
When a ship enters a British port, the captain is obliged to allow MCA inspectors to board. Each month, the MCA receives an average of nine reports of significant breaches of maritime legislation. If on inspection, the MCA finds that a ship fails to meet international safety standards, it can be put under arrest. For the crew, arrest of the ship can be disaster: detained in a foreign port with no right to come ashore and inadequate provisions.
click here to read about pastoral care for the crew of a ship detained for repairs
the story appears on the AOS international website
Cargo ship Ice Prince sinking off the coast of Torbay in January 2008. AOS port chaplain Louise Carter was onhand to offer practical and pastoral care to the distressed crew. |
Seafarers’ rights
The rights of seafarers are protected by international law. 2006 saw a significant advance in the field of seafarers’ rights when the International Labour Organisation adopted the Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention. The Convention guarantees fair and decent working conditions for seafarers worldwide. In order to have force in law, it must be ratified by at least 30% of the countries responsible for 30% of world shipping tonnage.
click here to read about the Convention on the AOS international website
In reality though, it can be difficult for seafarers to claim their rights. They may be reluctant to speak out about abuse for fear the consequences. Sadly, there are frequent instances of unacceptable working conditions, unfair wages and even violence or sexual abuse against seafarers. It is widely believed among seafarers that complaining leads to blacklisting by manning agents. This effectively prevents them from working at sea again.
click here to read how AOS helped a crew to claim unpaid wages in the port of Tilbury
Flags of Convenience
International law requires that ships fly the flag of the state in which they are registered, i.e. their “flag state”. Flag states are responsible for regulating areas such as the physical state of the ship; working conditions onboard; and activities of ship owners. Certain countries with less than demanding regulations profit by allowing foreign ships to register. These flags are known as “Flags of Convenience”. Their widespread use is a significant barrier to seafarers’ rights.
click here to read about Flags of Convenience on the AOS international website
Fair trade, fair transport?
British consumers are increasingly aware of fair trade issues. The commercial sector is responding to consumer demand. Retailers are proud to claim that their goods have been ethically produced guaranteeing fair wages, decent working conditions and minimal environmental damage. However there is still little understanding of the conditions in which goods have been transported. In the debate on ethical consumption, the rights of seafarers rarely feature.
AOS GB works to promote corporate social responsibility, raising awareness of the issues of seafarers and advising how best to safeguard their rights.
click here to read more about the work of AOS GB
British imports
Food
40% of food consumed in Britain is imported, almost all by sea. Food and drink constitutes 9.8% of British imports.
Source: Dept for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Fuel
13.7% of Britain’s energy is supplied by imported fuel carried almost entirely by sea in the form of liquefied gas, oil or coal.
Source: Dept for Trade and Industry
Cars
Over half of all cars on British roads were imported by sea. In addition some 1.5 million cars manufactured in Britain were exported by sea in 2005.
Source: Dept for Trade and Industry
The Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention
Significantly, both trade unions and ship owners support the Convention. In Britain, the Chamber of Shipping is working with transport unions and the Government to prepare for the ratification of the Convention.
The Convention establishes regulations to ensure that all seafarers have the right to the following:
a safe and secure workplace
fair terms of employment
decent working and living conditions onboard ship
health and welfare services
click here to learn more about the Consolidated Maritime Convention
Useful links
Please note that AOS is not responsible for the content of web pages external to our own.
International Chamber of Shipping
International Transport Federation, Seafarers Section
Seafarers’ working hours survey
The survey of seafarers’ working hours was the result of collaboration of the following: