HAVING ADOPTED amendments to the International Convention
for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (hereinafter referred
to as the Convention), concerning special measures to enhance maritime
safety and security,
RECOGNIZING that the shipping industry and the smooth transportation
of goods are essential to world trade,
RECALLING that the Assembly of the International Maritime
Organization (hereinafter referred to as "the Organization") adopted
resolution A.907(22) on the long term work programme of the Organization
(up to 2008) and that the human element is an important item thereof,
RECALLING ALSO the provisions of the Convention on Facilitation
of International Maritime Traffic, 1965, as amended, which has, inter
alia, established a general right for foreign crew members
to be entitled to shore leave while the ship on which they arrived
is in port, provided that the formalities on arrival of the ship have
been fulfilled and the public authorities have no reason to refuse
permission to come ashore for reasons of public health, public safety
or public order;
RECALLING FURTHER the generally accepted principles of international
human rights applicable to all workers, including seafarers,
CONSIDERING that, given the global nature of the shipping
industry, seafarers need special protection,
BEING AWARE that seafarers work and live on ships involved
in international trade and that access to shore facilities and shore
leave are vital elements of seafarers' general well-being and, therefore,
to the realisation of safer seas and cleaner oceans,
BEING AWARE ALSO that the ability to go ashore is essential
for joining and leaving a ship after the agreed period of service,
1. URGES Contracting Governments to take the human
element, the need to afford special protection to seafarers and the
critical importance of shore leave into account when implementing
the provisions of chapter XI-2 of
the Convention and the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) Code (hereinafter referred to as "the Code");
2. ENCOURAGES Contracting Governments, Member
States of the Organization and non-governmental organizations with
consultative status at the Organization to report to the Organization
any instances where the human element has been adversely impacted
by the implementation of the provisions of chapter
XI-2 of the Convention or the Code; and
3. REQUESTS the Secretary-General to bring to
the attention of the Maritime Safety Committee and the Facilitation
Committee of the Organization, any human element related problems,
which have been communicated to the Organization as a result of the
implementation of chapter XI-2 of
the Convention or the Code.