ISWAN advises on port levies
The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) has published a new report , ‘Port levies and sustainable welfare for seafarers’, which advises on the benefits of port levies at a time when funding for seafarers’ welfare is under pressure.
The report revealed that 35% of the 132 participating ports, including Miami, Marseille and Cape Town, already operate port welfare levies. Voluntary levy payments were 75% to 99% for 10 of these ports, and the average levy rate is US$58.
ISWAN says while there are often no restrictions on levy expenditure, revenue is almost always used for maintenance of seafarers’ centres, operating seafarer transport and covering staffing costs.
Roger Harris, executive director of ISWAN, said: “There is much to be learned from ports with existing levies, including from the challenges faced in setting up and implementing levies. Collaboration and determination play a crucial role in making port levies work.”
“This report can be used as a tool to support more levies being put in place, and improving practice for existing levies. While not a panacea, levies provide a sustainable and predictable way to help shore-based welfare provisions in the MLC be implemented globally,” he added.
The report has been launched in the run up to the ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 coming into force on 20 August 2013.
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