Date of Award
1995
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Science in Maritime Affairs
Specialization
Maritime Administration & Environmental Protection
Campus
Malmö, Sweden
Country
Bangladesh
First Advisor
Sampson, Theodore.
Abstract
This dissertation is a study of the open registry question of seafarer wages, employment conditions, performance standards, comparing with those of the traditional maritime seafarer of developed countries, and the position of the ITF, and other organisations over open registry system as well. The opening chapter of this dissertation has evaluated the growth and development, and characteristics of open registry system. Examining these aspects of open registry, it is assessed that open registry is a necessary demand for merchant shipping industry. Because it has provided shipowners the advantages of reducing their operating costs and many other facilities to compete more effectively in a free market environment in merchant shipping industry. The issues of open registry seafarers wages, employment situation, working conditions, and their standards, and the manning of open registry ships have been examined in the succeeding chapters and it is found that: (1) average wages of open registry seafarers are not below the ILO standards; (2) average quality of open registry seafarers are not so bad compared with their western counterparts; (3) some major registries are enforcing minimum standards of national/international rules and regulations concerning manning of ships to ensure safe operation of ships, safety of life and property at sea, and prevention of marine environment; while others are flexible to comply these national/international minimum standards. Rather they leave these to the shipowners to comply with such standards according to their wish. Over the issues of open registry shipping and its seafarers, the position of ITF and other organisations have been discussed. And it is found that: except ITF and its iv affiliated developed countries seafarers unions, by this time, other organisations have admitted the very existence of open registry shipping. The concluding chapter summarises and examines the potential use and implications of open registry system as well as open registry seafarers. A number of recommendations are made concerning the necessity of open registry seafarers and open registry system as well.