The Access Subcommittee (ASC) Seafarer General Rights Task Group (TG) has been charged with the responsibility to address the following tasks from AMSC Facility Security Work Group (FSWG) Task Statement Action Sheet.
FSWG TASK: Working Group to address issues and opportunities related to security at facilities within Houston-Galveston-Texas City-Freeport region, including the impactions for other stakeholder actives and overall operations within the port complexes.
FSWG Short Term Tasks:
1. Identify security-related issues that adversely impact facility access and vessel support leading to restrictions on shore access for mariners, excess vessel movements, and other negative impacts for vessels and facilities with the region.
2. Identify and document best practices being used by facilities that reduce or eliminate these restrictions/impacts.
3. Develop and implement a plan to begin outreach to individual facilities, stakeholder groups and the marine community to address issue and drive improvements in each of these areas.
4. Monitor pending regulatory requirements for their impact on the industry and develop plans to enhance a coordinated implementation and issues resolution within the region.
5. As needed, communicate lessons learned and/or recommendations to the FMSC and AMSC and, as requested, provide additional assistance related to proposed regulatory or policy changes
Objective - Recognizing that waterfront facilities have not approached seafarer access uniformly, this subcommittee seeks to define the legitimate expectations mariners should have for access to shore leave. Further, we expect to develop a recommended standard approach so that safety and security are not compromised while meeting the need for seafarers; access to shore leave.
By completing this objective, the ASC Seafarer General Rights TG will meet the FSWG Task and the FSWG Short Term Tasks 1, 2, 4 and 5 above.
Overview - The implementation of MTSA, including final implementation of TWIC card requirements nationwide, has resulted in a myriad of complications for seafarers seeking to go ashore and in many cases has made shore leave impractical or cost prohibitive. A thorough review has determined that there are no laws that allow a terminal to detain seafarers who have been granted shore leave by the US Customs & Border Patrol (CBP).
FSWG and Subcommittee Issues and Concerns - By completing the objective, the ASC Seafarer General Rights TG will have addressed the following FSWG and Subcommittee issues and concerns raised in outreach meetings
- People get educated on vessel and facility regulations - both domestic and foreign
- Need for mariners on ships to go on shore leave, etc.
- Need for ships to obtain services (mariner transfers, stores, repairs, inspections, owner reps, pilots) while dockside
- Learn now regulations can affect facilities' private property rights versus seafarers' right to free transit between shore and the vessel.
- Problems w/ the 29-day rule
- Overarching regulatory and policy environment related to facility access issues
Co-chairs
Tom Hudson - MOL Tankship Management LTD
Bob Lain - Moran Shipping
