THE 26TH IFSMA ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

HAVING EXAMINED recent cases where Shipmasters have been jailed for a variety of alleged offences IFSMA deplores the way in which Coastal States have pursued their prosecutions without due regard to Humna Rights and International Law,

BELIEVES that Shipmasters are entitled to know the alleged offence with which they are charged in writing in a language which they understand and to be provided with legal representation,

CONSIDERS that no Shipmaster should ever be put in jail without a fair trial and no Shipmaster should be detained in jail while awaiting trial for a civil offence.

CONSIDERS FURTHER that there is an urgent need to convene an International Conference covering the penal jurisdiction of shipping and Shipmasters in the context of International Conventions.