“The adoption of the Maritime Labour Convention in 2006 was an historical milestone that heralded a new era in the maritime sector,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. “This latest step, building on international tripartite cooperation, is a very significant and inspiring example for other economic sectors.”

The amendments, which were developed over nearly a decade by a Joint Working Group established by the ILO and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1998, will now be sent to the ILO’s International Labour Conference in May for approval.

Mr Ryder said they will strengthen the 2006 Convention because they establish mandatory requirements that shipowners have financial security to cover abandonment, as well as death or long-term disability of seafarers due to occupational injury and hazard.

Meanwhile at the same meeting, the Nautilus International union presented the findings of its recent membership survey about pension provision for seafarers which showed that many seafarers are not able to plan for retirement.

It said that whilst more than 60% said that saving for retirement was a priority, the same percentage was not in a company pension scheme. The survey, based on a questionnaire by the ILO, also found that the majority of respondents would support the creation of a supplemental pension plan for seafarers and over 80% were likely to contribute to it.

Nautilus International represents 24,000 maritime professionals including ship masters (captains), officers, officer trainees (cadets) and shipping industry personnel, such as ship pilots, inland navigation workers, vessel traffic services operators, harbourmasters, seafarers in the oil and gas industry, and shore-based staff.