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seafarers

Maritime Levy Campaign

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About the Project

Seafarers move 90% of the worlds goods around the globe.

They work in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions. But because they are out at sea, they are out of sight and often out of mind. 

Thankfully, a range of welfare organisations exist to support seafarers. They help provide some of the comfort and support that most people take for granted on land. But a properly funded and sustainable welfare sector is needed to continue providing this vital support. 

seafarer

 

 

How are we helping?

We are advocating for changes in policy and legislation. 

We believe that levies and taxes charged to maritime companies by States should be used in part to support the welfare of seafarers by funding port based facilities and services.

Our efforts in New Zealand were successful and we are now working to support partners in Australia to bring about similar changes. 

seafarer NZ

 

 

Call to Action

Human Rights at Sea urges coastal states to reinforce political will and national legislative pathways to assure sustainable and long-term welfare support in law through existing maritime levy structures.
seaperson

 

 

Related Resources
Document
Australia Maritime Levy Counsels Opinion Feb 2022
Document
NZ Maritime Levy Counsels Opinion April 2020
Document
NZ MLC Welfare Failures Report March 2020

 

 

Success in New Zealand

Our maritime levy campaign began in 2019 in New Zealand. In 2020 we published a report on the underfunding of welfare services and the poor MLC compliance of New Zealand. We followed this up with a Counsel's Opinion, indicating how the situation could be rectified. This led to a government commitment to rectify the situation and an eventual change in legislation.

This change will allow port welfare facilities to access sustainable funding funded from the collection of levies from visiting vessels. Around 130,000 crew members visiting the 10 ports of New Zealand will have access to welfare facilities which are sustainably funded thanks to Human Rights at Sea’s Maritime Levy Campaign.

In 2022 we heard from the New Zealand government that the changes implemented have been positively impactful to the tens of thousands of crew members who pass through New Zealand’s ports. We continue to work with government and maritime welfare providers to monitor the effectiveness of the legislative changes

flag

Related Articles (Dated ordered oldest – newest)

New Zealand: Under-Funding of Seafarers’ Welfare Services and Poor MLC Compliance – March 2020 [Updated]: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/new-zealand-under-funding-seafarers-welfare-services-and-poor-mlc-compliance-march-2020-updated

New Zealand Government to change maritime law to fund seafarer’s centres – 11 March 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-government-change-maritime-law-fund-seafarers-centres

Impact of seafarers’ welfare maritime levy now evident in New Zealand, says Transport Minister – 11 March 2022:  https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/impact-seafarers-welfare-maritime-levy-now-evident-new-zealand-says-transport-minister

Counsel’s Opinion: New Zealand: Under-Funding of Seafarers’ Welfare Services and Poor MLC Compliance – 3 April 2020:  https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/counsels-opinion-new-zealand-under-funding-seafarers-welfare-services-and-poor-mlc-compliance-3-0

New Zealand Transport Minister updates HRAS on Seafarer welfare funding legislation – 20 April 2022:  https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-transport-minister-updates-hras-seafarer-welfare-funding-legislation

Seafarers Welfare Board for New Zealand fully concurs with HRAS Report – 22 April 2020: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/seafarers-welfare-board-new-zealand-fully-concurs-hras-report

In Force. New Zealand Amends Legislation to provide assured Seafarer Welfare funding – 1 July 2022:  https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/force-new-zealand-amends-legislation-provide-assured-seafarer-welfare-funding

New Zealand Government drives legislative change in support of Seafarers’ Centres – 15 October 2022:  https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-government-drives-legislative-change-support-seafarers-centres

Maritime New Zealand Requests HRAS Advisory Opinion on a Future Model for Sustainable Seafarer Welfare Funding – 29 November 2022:  https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/maritime-new-zealand-requests-hras-advisory-opinion-future-model-sustainable-seafarer-welfare

New Zealand Government Department Seeks Public Review of Maritime Levy Options for Seafarer Welfare Funding - 24 July 2023: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-government-department-seeks-public-review-maritime-levy-options-seafarer-welfare

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Organisation in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council since 2022

Human Rights at Sea is a Registered Charity in England and Wales, No. 1161673

Registered Office: Langstone Technology Park, Langstone Road, Havant PO9 1SA, United Kingdom

© 2023 | Human Rights at Sea

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  • Who we are
    • Our Mission
    • Our Strategy
    • Our People
      • Our Team
      • Board of Trustees
      • Advisory Board
      • Our Patron
    • Donors
    • Finances and Annual Reports
    • Consultancy Services
  • What we do
    • Access to Justice
      • Human Rights at Sea Arbitration
      • Fisheries Observer Project
      • Death at Sea - a film about one family's courage and the fight for justice.
      • HRAS Seawatch
      • Ukraine: Supporting Coastal Communities
    • Law Reform and Policy
      • The Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea
      • Maritime Levy Campaign
      • Fisheries and Aquaculture Certification, Standards and Ratings Review
    • Slavery at Sea
    • Children at Sea
    • Equality at Sea
  • Impact
  • News
  • Resources
    • Resources Listing
  • Contact us
  • Need help?
    • eyeWitness at Sea