ITF campaign against FoCs reaps improved standards.

(From Lloyds List)

THE International Transport Workers' Federation campaign against flags of convenience was launched in 1948.

While the political campaign has not so far succeeded in preventing a constant growth in ships using open registers, the ITF says that the industrial campaign has succeeded in enforcing decent minimum wages and conditions on board nearly 5,000 FoC ships.

'The reality is that our primary objective has been to maintain the genuine link with the ultimate beneficial owner. We haven't had a great success in stopping the registers themselves but we have had great effect in encouraging them to have good minimum standards in employment of seafarers and in safety culture,' says Steve Cotton, secretary of the ITF's special seafarers' department.

The ITF remains committed to its campaign to end FoCs, says Mr Cotton, although 'it is clear that some national flags have as many health and safety problems as some FoCs.

'It just depends on the operator and style of each operator,' he says. 'There are some mature, responsible FoC registers where we work with them when we have problems. But that doesn't mean we don't declare them FoCs; still the problem for us is that the link to beneficial ...