Danish seafarers’ union Metal Maritime’s shore leave dispute with compatriot shipping giant AP Moller Maersk could end up in the Labour Court, after both sides’ attempts at mediation failed.
The dispute began on 11 February, when seafarers informed Metal Maritime receives confirmation from members that Maersk had banned seafarers on its ships from going ashore. Three days later, Metal Maritime reported this perceived breach of the Danish Maritime Act and the Maritime Labour Convention to the Danish Maritime Authority.
On 25 February, the Danish Maritime Authority arranged a meeting between representatives from Maersk and Metal Maritime, during which the authority’s officials reportedly reminded Maersk’s representatives that the Seamen’s Act guarantees the seafarer the right to go ashore and that it is the master who can ask the seafarer to stay on board – not the shipping company.
On 11 March, Maersk announced that it was lifting the restrictions on shore leave for all its ships worldwide, but Metal Maritime went ahead with its action.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
