The UAE’s Federal Transport Authority (FTA) for Land and Maritime has started cracking down on vessel owners who abandon or ill-treat their crew members.
What happened?
The FTA banned vessels belonging to Fujairah from entering the UAE waters after it failed to protect seafarers’ rights.
It also banned ships belonging to Venous Ship Management and Operation LLC based in Fujairah in a circular [No (9) 2018] that was issued to ports authorities, harbour masters, ship agents and seafarers.
Warning issued to seafarers
The FTA also issued warning to all seafarers and ship agents against dealing with this company or other companies owned by the same owners.
Hessa Bint Ahmad Al Malek, executive director, Marine Transport, FTA said, “Ships belonging to Venous Ship Management and Operation LLC, or belonging to the owners of the said company, are banned from operating in UAE ports and waters, or anchoring in UAE waters”.
Indian Consulate welcomes move
The Indian Consulate based in Dubai welcomed this move and tweeted a copy of the circular and posted, “Happy that action has been taken against M/s Venous Ship Management on whose ship (Athens 99) several Indian sailors faced grave hardship”.
The Consul-General of India in Dubai Vipul said, “It is a very welcome step. It will act as a deterrent to other companies ill-treating sailors. The consulate had coordinated with the FTA to repatriate some of the distressed Indian crew members of Athens 99 but their salaries are still pending.”
Advice to seafarers
The FTA has issued a list of blacklisted companies so that seafarers can exercise caution while accepting jobs. The consulate had also advised the sailors to apply due diligence before accepting an employment offer to work on ships and not to get recruited through unscrupulous agents.
Last month, the FTA made insurance coverage for sailors mandatory so that they will be compensated in case of delayed payments and abandonment by ship owners as well as for death and injuries during work.
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Source: Gulf News
