RESOLUTION

The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC),

Having received, a Task Statement from the United States Coast Guard in June, 2008,
requesting NMSAC to examine and quantify the problem of seafarers’ access to shore leave and
to provide comments by September 18, 2008,
Convened a Seafarers’ Access working group consisting of representatives that consisted of
representatives from Seafarer’s Unions, Seafarer’s Welfare Organizations, Facility
owner/operators, Facility Security Officers, and Shipowners Associations,
Having met on September 18, 2008 to discuss, among other items, the findings of the working
group,
Recognizing that, several international instruments, listed in the working group’s report, affirm
seafarers’ rights to shore leave, visitors, and representatives of seafarers' welfare and labour
organizations,
Noting that, seafarers work and live on ships involved in domestic and international trade and
that access to shore facilities and shore leave are vital elements of seafarers' general well-being
and, therefore, to the realization of safer seas and cleaner oceans and the free flow of commerce,
Considering that, due to the global nature of the shipping industry, seafarers need special
protection, and security needs must be balanced with the rights of seafarers, and
Noting that, the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), requires that
port facility plans address procedures for:
“facilitating shore leave for ship's personnel or personnel changes, as well as access of visitors to
the ship including representatives of seafarers' welfare and labour organizations.”
Resolves that, the Coast Guard,
1. enforce the obligation of port facilities under the ISPS Code, the Maritime Transportation
Security Act, and the relevant provisions of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations
regarding seafarers’ access to shore leave, and access for visitors, representatives of
seafarers welfare and labor organization;
2. require each port facility to facilitate access for seafarers by requiring that every port
facility security plan facilitate shore leave, crew changes, and access for visitors, in
accordance with the ISPs Code and international instruments. Any costs for facilitating
such access is a matter for the port facility; and,
3. convene a high-level group consisting of representatives of the Department of Homeland
Security, Department of State, Seafarer’s Unions, Seafarer’s Welfare Organizations,
Facility owner/operators, Facility Security Officers, and Ship-owners Associations to
address all related seafarer access issues.