The Abandonment of Seafarers and Ships, Public Lecture at WMU

On 2 May, University of Southampton Professor of Maritime Law, Dr. Hilton Staniland, delivered a public lecture at WMU entitled “The Abandonment of Seafarers and Ships: Reflections on the Most Recent Developments.”

The topic of abandonment represents one of the most existential aspects of the relationship between seafarers and life at sea. It is the moment where the bond between a ship and its crew is broken, often in dramatic circumstances. Incidents such as the Titanic, Costa Concordia and, more recently, Sewol, are prominent examples. In his lecture, Prof. Staniland recalled the basic law about the responsibility of the master in the final act of abandonment, and relayed his experience as the president of a court of inquiry into the loss of the Meob Bay and 19 of its crew-members off the coast of Namibia.

Prof. Staniland also reported on the latest amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 which were agreed to at the International Labour Organization in Geneva on 11 April 2014. The amendments establish mandatory requirements that shipowners must maintain financial security to cover the abandonment of seafarers. A large number of seafarers around the world are currently reported to be still in distressed situations of abandonment by their employers, and several have been abandoned for many years. Prof. Staniland contributed to the amendments and provided insights into the rationale for them including highlighting areas that still need improvement.

For a bio of Professor Hilton Staniland, click here.