Part Ⅰ The World of Shipping: A General Overview 1
1.Shipping and World Trade 3
1.1.Background 3
1.2.Shipping and Globalization 6
1.3.Technological Development 7
2.Ownership Organization and Finance 10
2.1.Ownership Organization 10
2.2.Finance 11
3.Ship Manning Companies 12
4.Flag States and Regulations 14
4.1.Flag of Convenience 16
4.2.Cutting Costs Strategies 18
4.3.The Genuine Link 20
4.4.The Case of Erika and Prestige 21
4.5.Crew of Convenience 23
5.Conclusion 25
Part Ⅱ The Seafarer: A Profile 27
1.The Global Labour Market 27
1.1.Composition of the Global Workforce 28
1.2.Mixed Nationality Crew 29
2.Seafarer's Profession 31
2.1.Specificity of the Seafarer's Profession 32
2.2.Why a Person Should Become a Seafarer 33
3.Conclusion 35
Part Ⅲ Employment Relationships 37
1.Collective Labour Relations 38
1.1.Industrial Relations 38
1.2.Trade Unions 41
1.3.The International Transport Worker's Federation 43
1.4.Transnational Collective Bargaining 46
2.Individual Labour Relations 48
2.1.Employment Contract 49
2.1.1.Conditions of the Employment Contract 50
2.1.2.Duration of the Employment 51
2.1.3.Termination of the Contract and Repatriation 53
2.2.Hours of Work and Rest 55
2.3.Wages 56
2.4.Occupational Health and Safety 60
2.4.1.Occupational Health 60
2.4.2.Safety 62
2.5.Welfare 64
2.5.1.Accommodation, Food and Catering 65
2.5.2.Communication and Recreational Facilities 66
3.Conclusion 67
Part Ⅳ Implementation and Enforcement of Seafarers' Rights at the International Scene 69
1.Grievance, Applicable Law and Jurisdictions 70
1.1.International Standards and Organizations 70
1.2.Enforcement Mechanisms 75
1.3.Seafarers Grievance 76
1.4.Monitoring and Port State Controls 78
2.Maritime Labour Convention 81
2.1.The Super Convention 81
2.2.Functioning and Contents of the MLC 85
2.3.Limitations of the MLC 87
3.EU Maritime Law Policy and Implementation of the MLC at European level 90
3.1.Strengths and Weaknesses of European Maritime Transport 90
3.2.Development of the EU Maritime Policy 93
3.3.Reflection of the MLC in EU Maritime Policy 96
4.Conclusion 98
Part Ⅴ General Conclusion 101
Appendix1 107
Figures 107
Appendix2 119
Tables 119
Bibliography 137