Merchant seafarers stuck on Dutch vessels in the Middle East are being denied their rights to hazard pay, says Nautilus International.
That’s because shipowners in the Netherlands are refusing to designate the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman as ‘War Zones’.
An agreement is already in place designating these areas as ‘Dangerous Passage Areas’, meaning that seafarers cannot be compelled to sail there.
However, this does not help seafarers who are already stranded in the area and unable to leave due to the sudden outbreak of war.
If the designation was upgraded to ‘War Zones’, seafarers would be entitled to hazard pay of double their usual salary – as agreed in the collective bargaining agreements the Union has with the shipowners.
The war allowance scheme is written in black and white,’ said Nautilus executive officer Richard Moti, ‘but the shipowners have been refusing to recognise it as a War Zone for over a week. It is very simple for anyone following the news, but the shipowners act as if it isn't.’
Iran is currently blocking the Strait of Hormuz, and civilian-crewed oil tankers are being bombarded with Iranian drones and speedboats loaded with explosives.
If the Dutch shipowners' attitude does not change soon, Mr Moti stressed, Nautilus will take legal action.
Tags
More articles
Advice to UK shipowners operating in the Persian Gulf following 'Warlike' designation
The UK Warlike Operations Area Committee (WOAC) has formally designated the Persian Gulf (PG), Straits of Hormuz (SoH) and Gulf of Oman (GOO) as a warlike area.
UK designates Strait of Hormuz a warlike area
The UK Warlike Operations Area Committee (WOAC) has formally designated the Persian Gulf (PG), Straits of Hormuz (SoH) and Gulf of Oman (GOO) as a warlike area.
FAQ: guidance for members on the situation in the Middle East
This FAQ for seafarers reflects the current security environment following Operation Epic Fury (United States) and Operation Roaring Lion (Israel), and subsequent Iranian retaliatory strikes