Inspector criticizes Transport Canada’s response to complaints
Transport Canada has detained a cargo ship in Vancouver harbour after finding 40 safety deficiencies that included allegations of sexual harassment and dangerous working conditions, according to a report.
The government agency intercepted the ship – named Nordic Malmoe – following a complaint to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) highlighting the dire conditions faced by its crew.
Nathan Smith, the ITF's lone inspector in British Columbia, said the intervention began when he received a plea for help from the wife of a crew member.
The woman described his husband as being worked “to death.”
“It’s been days since I last heard from him, and this is the first time that this happened. I’m scared he’ll do something unimaginable,” she wrote, as reported by the Vancouver Sun.
Upon inspection, Smith found a crew in “rough condition,” with many expressing a desire to return home, according to the publication. Reports of bullying, sleep deprivation, and even a female cadet being inappropriately touched by an officer were among the complaints.
The cadet said she feared further escalation of the behaviour once the ship left port.
Troubles in obtaining visas
According to Smith, seafarers work under grueling conditions, earning approximately $4 an hour for up to 300 hours a month. Contracts often last nine months but can extend to eleven. After that, employers are required to repatriate crew members; however, delays in obtaining Canadian visas for replacement workers often mean crews are forced to stay onboard for longer periods.
Smith described some maritime work environments as akin to "modern-day slavery".
"People see these big ships out on the water and they look beautiful. In some cases, there are people onboard in modern-day slavery conditions," he told the Vancouver Sun.
Transport Canada also cited violations of crew rest regulations and unsafe work practices. In an earlier incident cited by Smith, a crew member on another ship complained of being forced to work in hazardous nighttime conditions that featured “gusts of wind and rain” during an atmospheric river that caused severe disruptions across British Columbia.
The Nordic Malmoe’s owners, the Nordic Hamburg Group, acknowledged the allegations, stating: “We take any allegation of harassment or misconduct in our company with the utmost seriousness.” The company also announced steps to address the issues through an internal investigation, according to the Vancouver Sun.
Inspector criticizes Transport Canada
Smith noted the unusual solidarity among the crew, who “all stood together” in their complaints, a rare occurrence in the typically isolated and marginalized world of seafarers, according to the report.
However, Smith criticized Transport Canada for what he sees as insufficient urgency in addressing seafarer complaints. He urged inspectors to consider complaints a high priority. Inspectors should also proceed as first responders, going to the scene to collect evidence rather than asking for it to be provided before investigating, hSmith said.
“They are reaching out because something is not right,” he said. Many workers fear retaliation, including blacklisting, if their identities become linked to complaints.
A report from Norwegian maritime insurer Gard found that 11% of crew fatalities between 2019 and 2023 were suicides, underscoring the toll of poor conditions on workers’ mental health, according to the Vancouver Sun. “This is a worryingly high number, and we believe that the actual number could in fact be much higher due to underreporting,” Gard stated.
Smith echoed the urgency of addressing mental health concerns, noting the isolation and grueling conditions faced by seafarers. “If they are connected to the complaint, they can be blacklisted, so they’re putting their livelihoods on the line,” he told the Vancouver Sun.
The Nordic Malmoe remains docked in Vancouver, with its departure contingent on rectifying the deficiencies. The ship is scheduled to travel to Stewart, B.C., and eventually Asia.
