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ITF applauds new ILO/IMO database (3/29)

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has issued the following statement concerning a new online database launched by the International Labor Organization and the International Maritime Organization. 29 March 2006. For immediate release New ILO/IMO abandonment database, ITF comment The ITF has welcomed today’s launch by the ILO and IMO of a publicly available database of abandoned crews (at http://www.ilo.org/dyn/seafarers/seafarersbrowse.home). Jon Whitlow, ITF Seafarers’ Secretary said: “Abandonment is a continuing, daily scandal. We welcome this effort by the ILO and IMO to throw a little more light on the problem. Projects such as this and the excellent Equasis website make the often closed world of shipping more transparent. We hope this new database will also help wake up some of the flag States involved to their obligations.” He continued: “We look forward to the day when the existing IMO/ILO guidelines on financial security for abandoned seafarers become a mandatory future part of the Seafarers' Bill of Rights or equivalent legislation.” The new database is hosted by the ILO and is announced at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/ ###