THE AUSTRALIAN Maritime Safety Authority has drawn attention for ships visiting Australian ports to the importance of providing shore leave to seafarers.
The maritime authority released a notice reminding companies, owners, and masters of ships that shore leave is a requirement under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, which states;
“Seafarers shall be granted shore leave to benefit their health and well-being and consistent with the operational requirements of their positions”.
AMSA says companies are responsible for seafarer health, safety, and wellbeing, highlighting shore leave and access to shore-based welfare facilities as key to seafarer physical and mental health, and reduces the risk of fatigue.
Companies are expected by AMSA to strongly consider the benefits to seafarer wellbeing and recovery when assessing the risks of allowing shore leave, reminding companies that the decision to grant shore leave should not be based on financial implications.
The authority warned that port state control officers may take action when there are clear grounds to believe the master or officers in charge of ships have not complied with the requirements as set out in the convention for seafarers to access shore leave.
“Should a company be advised that shore leave is not possible by a shoreside authority in Australia, this information should be provided to AMSA to investigate as the Competent Authority,” AMSA stated.
“Whilst it is recognised that there are risks with communicable diseases that cannot be eliminated entirely, there are suitable and acceptable controls that can be put in place to allow seafarers to access shore leave safely.”
The right to shore leave is also implemented in Australian law in the Navigation Act 2012 and Marine Order 11 – Living and working conditions on vessels.
In 2022, the International Chamber of Shipping identified Australia as responsible for some of the worst treatment of seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
