An ITF inspector at work

Rob Coston interviews Nautilus/ITF inspector Matt Parsonage about how he helps seafarers in northwest England and beyond with everything from living conditions onboard to serious cases of abandonment

Q: What is your job as an ITF inspector?

A: Our role is to protect and promote the rights of seafarers globally, which we do by carrying out inspections on flag of convenience vessels calling into ports in our coverage areas, and handling case work.

We're on the front line – seafarers can always approach us for help with their problems. Some of our inspections are routine. We target vessels based on things like their history and flag state status. On other occasions, we may have been contacted by a seafarer onboard. They may have a problem they don't feel comfortable raising within the hierarchy, or they may not be aware of the complaints procedure, so we go onboard, investigate, and try to resolve the issue while also protecting their identity.

Q: What common problems do you help with?

A: On a day-to-day basis I deal a lot with contractual matters – especially unpaid wages/overtime, working hours and repatriation issues.

I also do a lot of work on crew welfare – everything from general cleanliness onboard, safe food storage, waste containment and quality of accommodation, all the way up to the operation of the vessel itself. Ships are an inherently dangerous work environment, so we need to make sure that standards are kept high.

We also have broader industry issues, like the culture of adjustment around working hours, or the common issue on container ships where seafarers are routinely carrying out dangerous work that should be performed by dockers. We've got a big container terminal here in Liverpool, so I'm faced with those situations almost every single time I go. Not only are seafarers doing this work without proper training and with poor and equipment, often after working long hours, but a lot of the time they're not getting paid for it either.

It's a real problem which results in injuries and deaths. It happened here in the last 12 months, when a guy was crushed between two shipping containers and paralyzed.

We also deal with abandonment cases in other parts of the world. I'm currently dealing with a case in Türkiye where 15 Ukrainian seafarers are owed about £75,000 in unpaid wages. The company is now slowly paying out, but I'm constantly chasing to make sure that they're getting the money they have earned.

Q: What do you do during an inspection?

A: I check that the vessel's paperwork is in order, including the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance, P&I insurance, Minimum Safe Manning Document, collective bargaining agreements, contracts, work/rest hours and wage accounts. I'm looking out for any discrepancies.

I then move on to inspecting conditions, for example in the accommodation, where I look through cabins, the galley, provision store, and recreation areas to make sure that seafarers have what they need – whether that's free drinking water, an adequate medicine supply, gym equipment, wi-fi, or books/entertainment. I'll also use that time to speak to the crew about life onboard. I like to have a bit of a joke with them and give advice about where to go in Liverpool if they get a chance to go ashore.

Q: How do you go about fixing an issue onboard?

A: If somebody's contacted me and their vessel is in my area, I normally try and get to the vessel myself. I usually go under the guise of a routine inspection to protect the seafarer from any kind of retribution.

When I see what the situation is, I'll liaise with the master, highlight the problem and explain what needs to be fixed. Further action would depend on how serious the problem is – I might just stay in contact with the captain and ask for photographic evidence to make sure that that work has been done, checking with the crew where possible. If it's more a systemic issue, I'll probably highlight it to the company or even the authorities.

When dealing with an issue such as owed wages, I will try to resolve it onboard with a cash payment. Sometimes, though, it needs to be negotiated after the visit, and it becomes casework. This casework also comes out of other things that I discover, such as disciplinary issues, repatriation problems, and contract irregularities.

For the example of an issue with cleanliness, I might also give a heads up to the port health authority before going onboard because this might be something for them to deal with.
On many occasions I will also liaise with other ITF inspectors who may be able to assist the seafarers and/or visit the vessel at a future port of call.

Q: What is your background?

A: I worked at sea for seven years as an electro-technical officer, and before that, I worked onshore as an electrician/electrical engineer. That means I've got a well-rounded background, and a good understanding of health and safety because the electrical and maritime industries are heavily regulated, as well as a keen eye for detail and strong investigation skills, which helps when I'm inspecting vessels.

My time at sea means I've got an affinity with the people I meet during inspections. I understand exactly what life can be like onboard – the trouble and the toil that these guys go through, but also how amazing the job is when things are done properly.

If you have a problem and you're coming to the UK – or any other country worldwide – then please find your closest ITF inspector. We'll be there to assist you.

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Get in touch with Matt Parsonage – or your nearest ITF inspector – by visiting the ITF Seafarers website, looking up the details in the ITF Seafarers' Bulletin magazine or downloading the ITF Seafarers app from the Google Play or Apple stores.

Union members should get in touch with their union representative first. If you are part of Nautilus International, speak to your industrial organiser or, in an emergency, contact Nautilus 24/7.