HAVING RECOGNIZED that crew members, as a special category
of workers, and given the global nature of the shipping industry and
different jurisdictions, particularly the different public authorities
that they may come into contact with, need special protection,
HAVING ACKNOWLEDGED that the adequate protection of crew
members' rights is paramount and given the great significance of shore
leave in relation to the human element and its influence on maritime
safety,
REITERATING the importance of the observation by Contracting
Governments to the 1974 SOLAS and the 1965 FAL Conventions, of the
Guidance on shore leave and access to ships (MSC.1/Circ.1342, annex) and Facilitating shore leave and access to ships,
removing unnecessary restrictions imposed by divergences in the implementation
of the ISPS Code (FAL.3/Circ.201),
HAVING CONFIRMED that crew members should not be discriminated
against on the basis of nationality, race, colour, sex, religion,
political opinion or social origin and irrespective of the flag State
of the ship on which they are employed, engaged or work,
HAVING CONSIDERED that unfair and discriminatory treatment
with regard to the granting of shore leave and access to shore-side
facilities still continues,
URGES all Member Governments to:
1 RESPECT the basic human rights of crew members
concerning shore leave and access to shore-based facilities;
2 TAKE STEPS to ensure that non-discriminatory
treatment is accorded to crew members in terms of shore leave or access
to shore-based facilities;
3 ENSURE that foreign crew members are allowed
ashore by the public authorities while the ship on which they arrive
is in port, provided that the formalities on arrival of the ship have
been fulfilled and there is no reason to refuse permission to come
ashore for reasons of public health, public safety or public order;
4 TAKE STEPS for granting shore leave to crew
members in a manner which excludes discrimination on the grounds of
nationality, race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion or social
origin and irrespective of the flag State of the ship on which they
are employed, engaged or work;
5 COMMUNICATE their reasons for shore leave denial
to the crew members and the master; and should it be requested by
the crew members concerned or the master, such reasons are to be provided
in writing.