Seafarers should say 'no' to this work which should be carried out by dockers
Seafarers should never be asked to handle cargo. it is a dangerous job and should only be carried out by trained and properly equipped port workers. You should say no if your shipowner tries to force you to do it. If you can’t, know where to get support.
Lashing is securing containers to the deck of a vessel, using heavy lashing bars and bottle screws. It should only be done by trained dock workers. Dockers work together in pairs, never on their own, because of the safety risks. They have the training, skills and equipment to minimise those risks. They carry out the work in a port where the vessel is berthed securely – lashing should never be done while a ship is in motion or at sea.
Seafarers: say no to lashing
- If you are ordered to stow or secure cargo, say no.
- If you are told to unlash containers before entering port, say no.
- If you are asked to unlash containers while you are alongside, say no.
Why?
It is dangerous. It is dangerous work and you are not trained or equipped to it. There have been accidents at sea on vessels made unsafe by badly lashed containers and other cargo.
Teams of shoreside workers are trained, properly equipped and understand their own safe working practices. Mixing crew and dockers on the job can create poor communications and misunderstandings, which can be fatal.
It adds to fatigue. Long working hours, tight sailing schedules and fast turnaround times can be stressful and exhausting. Crewing levels barely cover maintenance and safe operation of the vessel and do not allow for cargo handling.
When your ship is in port, you should be resting or taking shore leave – not rushing around fastening and unfastening cargo. Fatigue is a major cause of accidents in port and at sea. It is bad for dockers. If seafarers do cargo handling, it takes jobs from qualified dockers.
Bad for dockers
If seafarers do cargo handling, it takes jobs from qualified dockers.
And it erodes the power of unionised dockers. Dockers are seafarers’ natural allies. The solidarity shown by port workers has been critical to win better working terms and conditions for seafarers. When dockers lose, seafarers lose. Why are seafarers asked to handle cargo? It’s all about the drive by shipowners and supportive governments for greater deregulation of the maritime industry.
Unscrupulous shipowners put profits before seafarer safety. They want to cut costs and squeeze more from seafarers and dockers, through longer working hours and less pay. They are undoing protective regulations that workers have fought long and hard for.
They also want to weaken dockers’ trade unions by ordering you to do their work. Don’t do it.
What if I am asked to handle cargo?
You have the right to refuse unsafe work if it puts you in danger – this includes lashing.
Thousands of ships are covered by ITF agreements, which contain the Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause. It stipulates that shipowners should use ITF-affiliated dockers to carry out cargo handling work, wherever they are available. Because of this clause, you have the right to refuse to carry out cargo handling work. They cannot force you.
Check if your vessel is covered by an ITF agreement: Use the Look Up section on the ITF Seafarers website, or download the free ITF seafarers’ app for iOS and Android.
If you say no and your shipowner still insists that you handle cargo contact the ITF Seafarers’ Support team at seafsupport@itf.org.uk.
