The latest issue of "MARITIME UNIONS HERALD": from medical examinations of seafarers to discrimination of dock workers

Changes are taking place in Russia and globally that directly affect the shipping industry, and, of course, the maritime workers. The latest issue of the journal "Maritime Unions Herald" addressed some recent challenges. For example, the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) obliges all vessels  to have a medicine chest  available on board, the composition of which must be determined by the relevant  authority and monitored in accordance with recommended national and international medical standards.

However, today in Russia, which ratified the MLC, there are no regulatory legal acts regulating these issues: the order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia that was in force earlier became invalid on September 30, 2014. The article “Marine Medicine: To Minimize Errors” discusses issues arising in relation to medicines purchase and steps needed  at the legislative level to minimize the likelihood of errors.

The problems of marine medicine do not end there. The order of the Ministry of Health of Russia No. 714n dated November 1, 2022 "On Approval of the Procedure for Conducting Medical Fitness Examination with the Purpose of Detecting Medical Contraindications to Seagoing Service, Including Toxicology Screening for Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances and their Metabolites, and Form of Medical Expert Opinion on Absence of Medical Contraindications to Seagoing Service” comes into effect from the 1st of March, 2023.

The Seafarers' Union of Russia emphasizes that not all of SUR's suggestions have been taken into account. The article “Medical Examination Procedure Revision Pending” reveals what requirements of international agreements have been  violated while developing the document and what this gonna mean for Russian seafarers.

The article "Diverse in Our Work, United for Change"  summarizes the outcomes of the Inland Navigation Section Conference of the International Transport Workers’ Federation’s (ITF).  The main focus of the delegates was to draw  plans to get governments to set minimum standards in all countries and employers to be consistent in their treatment of inland waterways workers. “Although our problems are local, their solutions are global. The conference brought us together for a resolute struggle for the rights of inland waterways  workers for the next five years,” -  ITF Inland Navigation Section Chairman and SUR  Chairman Yury Sukhorukov said.

The life of dockers has its own difficulties - some employers explicitly persecute workers for trade union membership.  The Chairman of the Russian Union of Dockers Maxim Kolyadintsev sees the biggest real problem in absence of government support. Read about the situation in stevedoring companies in Russian ports in the article “Trade Union Discrimination Should Be Punished With Harsh Penalties”.

Among other  publications: the performance of the International Transport Workers' Federation Inspectors in Russia in 2022; labour conditions at Stolt Tankers, which has entered into a new collective agreement with the SUR; important new Guidelines on abandoned crews; Medical  Guide for seafarers and fishers; revised risks for vessels and seafarers in the  African continent area.

On the pages of history, the "Maritime Unions Herald"  tells about the first and last voyage of the luxury liner "Georges Philippar".

The electronic version of the journal is available here.