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Deserters target Lyttleton
01 Oct 2006
More illegal ship deserters are entering Lyttelton Port of Christchurch than the rest of New Zealand’s ports put together. An estimated 105 ship deserters entered the country in the past financial year, of which 55 absconded through Lyttelton.
News of the situation has brought calls for increased industry-wide port surveillance and Depart of Labour Immigration Service staff deployment.
Maritime Union general secretary Trevor Hanson has repeatedly said that given the high number of foreign crew jumping ship in New Zealand it is time the Government took a tougher stand. Last year, he suggested that before foreign crew were allowed to come to New Zealand there should be assurances given that they would not jump ship and that there were good conditions on board the ships to stop them wanting leave.
