ITF meets Hebei Spirit seafarers held in Korea (1st August 2008)

From www.itfglobal.com.

ITF officials have met with two merchant ship officers held in Korea as a result of an incident involving their vessel, the Hebei Spirit. This led to a major oil spill disaster in a Korean port last December.

Shigeru Wada, ITF Asia-Pacific Regional Secretary, Mahendra Sharma, ITF Deputy Asia-Pacific Regional Secretary and Hye Kyung Kim, ITF Co-ordinator for Korea, met Captain Chalwa and Chief Officer Chetan in Seoul yesterday. They reported that the men were determined to prove their innocence and had been heartened by the rising chorus of support for them.

Recently acquitted of all charges of violating the state’s ocean pollution law by a South Korean court, the men are still being held after local prosecutors appealed the decision.

However, the officers were said to be more optimistic about their future after receiving news of a demonstration in Mumbai, India, yesterday, organised jointly by the National Union of Seafarers of India and the Maritime Union of India. This led to a pledge by the Indian government to take up their plight with the Korean government and the International Maritime Organization, and a promise from the Korean consul to raise the matter in Seoul.

ITF General Secretary David Cockroft, who will meet with Justice Ministry officials in Seoul on the men’s behalf today, commented: “The Hebei Spirit spill was and is a desperately serious matter for those affected – including thousands of people living or working in the area. They need compensation and help, and we can only hope to understand their shock and outrage at the severe and unexpected damage to their lands and livelihood.”

“The desire to prevent such an accident occurring again is praiseworthy and doubtless motivated by the best intentions. However, two men who have already been found innocent of involvement have been caught up in that effort and it is time to stand back, reconsider and then release them.”

Last week the shipping industry and the ITF issued a joint appeal for the men’s release.

From www.itfglobal.com.