In a joint statement, the International Chamber of Shipping/International Shipping Federation (ICS/ISF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have warmly welcomed the offer of International Maritime Organization Secretary-General E. E. Mitropoulos to the Government of Pakistan to facilitate the release of the “Karachi Eight.”In their news release, the ITF and the ICS/ISF noted that “the offer was made on humanitarian grounds in response to the growing concerns voiced from all sides of the industry about the effect of the prolonged detention on the wellbeing of the master and crew members from the motor tanker Tasman Spirit and the master of the salvage company involved.
“The ICS/ISF and ITF also shared the secretary-general’s concern on the effect such detentions may have on other seafarers serving on ships which may be involved in an accident and on the global campaign to attract high quality young officers to the maritime profession.
“The ICS/ISF and ITF also welcomed the efforts made by the European Union to secure the release of the detained men in its delegation’s recent visit to Pakistan and expressed the wish that the efforts of all the parties involved would soon lead to a successful outcome for all concerned.”
The International Chamber of Shipping and the International Shipping Federation are the principal international trade association and employers' organization for ship operators. ICS/ISF membership includes national shipowners’ associations in 45 countries representing the majority of the world’s merchant shipping tonnage.
The ITF is a federation of 604 trade unions in 137 countries. The SIU is an ITF affiliate.
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