WASHINGTON: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is criticizing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for denying shore leave to Hanjin Shipping’s seafarers. ITF labeled the refusal to let Korean and Indonesian crew members on the Hanjin Marine ashore in Seattle on Monday a “denial of human rights.” Jeff Engels, an inspector for the ITF, said the ship arrived in Seattle Monday after three weeks of circling off the coast. Although crew members were being paid and there was two months worth of food aboard the ship, there was no reason to prevent them from visiting a seafarer’s center, Engels said.
Engels said he called CBP several times, and had others phone CBP, but the agency still insisted there was a possibility the crew could try and jump ship due to the Hanjin situation if they were granted shore leave. “I countered with the fact that shore leave was a human right and that the seafarers should not be made to suffer due to the Hanjin situation, which had nothing to do with their simple desire to walk around, smell a tree and visit the local seafarers center,” Engels said. “They still did not budge.”
CBP issued a statement that said, “U.S. Customs and Border Protection ensures the well-being, safety and security of all crewmembers including foreign nationals. CBP officers have discretionary authority to determine if a foreign national crew member meets all admissibility requirements, including their intent to return to the vessel.”
CPB added, “Crewmembers who are foreign nationals are granted special permission to disembark the vessel, under CBP supervision, for exigent circumstances, such as seek medical attention. CBP closely monitors these situations, and vessels are authorized to receive supplies. CBP officers regularly conduct crew checks for humanitarian reasons and if any abuse or violation is observed, we handle those accordingly, and refer to the appropriate authorities. CBP’s front-line employees perform their duties with professionalism and are mindful of the humanitarian aspects in their mission. CBP regularly meets with vessel captains and vessel owners to discuss current regulations and issues.” Seattle is not the only place where Hanjin crew members have not been allowed to come ashore. Engels said seafarers on three Hanjin ships calling terminals in Los Angeles and Long Beach were also not allowed ashore earlier this month.
When the Hanjin Miami docked last week in Newark, N.J., a representative from the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) was told by the ship’s master that three of the crew who possessed valid visas were denied shore leave because they were serving on their first contract with Hanjin, said Naomi Walker, director of communications of SCI.
ITF said in Seattle on Monday, “At their 18:00 crew shift change, the despairing crew decided to make the situation public and stood at the gangway flying a banner stating ‘We deserve shore leave’. When they learned of what the seafarers were being put through, outraged members of ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) Local 19 staged a spontaneous demonstration of support for the seafarers from the dockside, cheering them and sounding horns.”
Paddy Crumlin, ITF president and chair of the ITF dockers’ section, said, “The dockers’ action was the type of urgent expression of solidarity that ILWU members are known for taking to help any worker who is in distress. It not only showed the seafarers that their voice is being heard, but also helped reveal that these entirely innocent workers are being denied that most basic of rights – to step on land after weeks or months at sea. It should be inconceivable that they are being denied that right. We hope that wiser heads at the CBP will now prevail and they will be allowed ashore.”
Crumlin said denial of shore leave to crew members “is morally and legally unacceptable. These are professional seafarers, working in a professional manner, carrying out all their tasks responsibly, and hoping that the situation with Hanjin will be rectified without the loss of jobs. Denying them an escape from their work environment is an abuse of humanity. The CBP needs to reconsider and fix this problem now.”
ITF seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel said, “So far, the welfare of crews on Hanjin ships has received the urgency it demands. In particular, the Korean government, our affiliate the FKSU (Federation of Korean Seafarers’ Unions) and the Korean Shipowners’ Association have acted quickly and in concert to look after crews. Within days, they formed a joint taskforce whose first priority was to ensure that provisions and water were put onboard all ships, and we understand that insurance has also been taken out to cover three months’ wages for all crew as well as three years’ pension entitlements.
“The ITF continues to monitor the situation, and ITF inspectors have visited Hanjin ships, unasked, in many countries. Thankfully, they have been able to report that so far crews are being paid, hoping to retain their jobs, and are in good spirits. The only serious exception to this is in the USA where those crews are being refused their legal right to shore leave while in possession of a bona fide visa. It is an additional stress at a stressful time, and frankly it’s indefensible.”
