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In a recent address to the general assembly of the International Maritime Organization, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp encouraged the IMO to address the pressing issues facing the international shipping community, including the Arctic, piracy and passenger ship safety. He challenged the international community to adopt a mandatory polar code of international norms for the Arctic to, “prevent the need for what would certainly be a difficult and lengthy response should a casualty occur, thus saving lives and protecting our environment.”
An IMO Polar Code would establish clear standards for ships and equipment design, vessel carriage requirements and appropriate operation and manning standards to help ensure the safety or mariners, passengers and cargo transiting the Arctic region. In the interim, an IMO voluntary Polar Code provides guidelines for ships operating in the Polar regions.
“The Arctic Ocean is rapidly changing from a solid expanse of inaccessible ice fields into a growing navigable sea, attracting increased human activity and unlocking access to vast economic potential and energy resources,” said the Commandant. “The acceleration of human activity,...

Source: Labor Notes

Source: Chicago Teachers Union

The campaign to support Norwegian dockers on strike over the need for a national dock register is escalating.
Two hundred supporters from all over Scandinavia attended the national rally, which took place at the Cafe Theatre in Oslo last week, with backing from the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and affiliated unions, and members of the International Dockworkers’ Council (IDC).
The Norwegian Transport Workers’ Federation (NTF) organised the event following the failure of port employers to sign up to a register which would guarantee unloading and loading work is ring fenced for dockers. Three strikes are currently ongoing as part of the dispute, in Tromso, Mosjoen and Risavika.
Under International Labour Organization (ILO) convention 137, and the ITF dockers’ clause, no worker other than a trained, professional docker can carry out loading and unloading work. In contravention of this, some employers in Norway have declared intentions to make use of seafarers to carry out cargo handling duties. An international delegation, including ETF president Lars Lindgren visited the terminal late last year to express solidarity with the workers.
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