ITF: Hanjin Seattles Crew Allowed to Come Ashore

Hanjin Shipping A crew of the container ship Hanjin Seattle has been granted shore leave on the vessels arrival at the US port of Seattle, according to the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). This decision is an immense relief to the affected crew and we trust that it will apply to all Hanjin crews with bona fide visas who want to avail themselves of their basic right to step ashore,” Dave Heindel, ITF seafarers’ section chair, said. The denial of shore leave to seafarers on Hanjin vessels was highlighted by an action of dockers at the same port last month, and by ITF inspectors in the USA, ITF said. Heindel added that the basic needs of Hanjin crews will continue to be addressed by a coalition of the Korean government, ITFs member union Federation of Korean Seafarers Unions (FKSU) and the Korean Shipowners Association. Last month, the US authorities were criticized by the ITF due to the refusal of shore leave to seafarers on board Hanjin ships in the USA as a denial of human rights. After the South Korean shipping company Hanjin Shipping filed for court protection on August 31, 2016, some 97 of the companys container ships were left stranded across the globe and unable to load or offload containers.