Webinar about merchant vessels and the migrant situation in the Mediterranean

Since 2014, a large number of persons have tried to cross the central Mediterranean as migrants. Merchant vessels have in several cases been called upon to come to the assistance, either by being standby or rescue boats in distress that have not been able to make the trip to Europe.

The merchant vessels are very well aware of their moral and legal obligation to come to the rescue of any persons in distress at sea. However, the merchant vessels and their crews have neither the necessary equipment nor the expertise to handle large rescue operations with many people often in a state of profound distress.  

In August, the tanker Maersk Etienne rescued 27 migrants at sea and had to keep them onboard for 38 days as disembarkment became subject to a political stalemate. The situation was unsustainable for both migrants, crew and ship owner and must be avoided in the future.

The aim of this webinar is to bring various stakeholders together to discuss the challenges for the shipping community surrounding the migrant situation in the Central Mediterranean and discuss potential solutions to address these challenges. 

Programme:

10:00 – 10:05:  Welcome and introduction
Marianne Vind, MEP, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament

10.05 – 10:10:  Setting the scene
Anne H. Steffensen, Director General and CEO, Danish Shipping

10:10 – 10:25:  A real life case – The Maersk Etienne Case
Tommy Thomassen, Chief Technical Officer, Maersk Tankers

10:25 – 10:35:  The impact on the seafarers 
Estelle Brentnall, Head of Maritime, ETF - European Transport Workers' Federation

10:35 – 10:45:  The role of the NGOs
Marie Naass, Secretary General, Sea-Watch

10:45 – 10:55  The situation for merchant vessels
Martin Dorsman, Secretary General, ECSA - European Community Shipowners’ Associations

10.55 – 11:05:  European approach to SAR under the Pact on migration and asylum
Michael Shotter, Director for Migration and Protection, European Commission, DG HOME

11:05 – 11:25:  Panel discussion and Q&A

• Representative from the European Commission - DG HOME
• Representative from FRONTEX (TBC)
• Estelle Brentnall, Head of Maritime, ETF - European Transport Workers' Federation
• Martin Dorsman, Secretary General, ECSA - European Community Shipowners’ Associations
• Marie Naass, Secretary General, Sea-Watch
• Tommy Thomassen, Chief Technical Officer, Maersk Tankers

11:25 – 11:30:  Summing-up
Marianne Vind, MEP, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament

Contact person:

Nina Möger Bengtsson
Political Advisor to MEP Marianne Vind
Danish Social Democrats
European Parliament
Mob. +45 2334 7278
Mail: nina.bengtsson@ep.europa.eu