Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951)

Schedules

Eighth Schedule

Work In Fishing Convention, 2007

Conditions of Service

Part IV

Repatriation

Article 21

Purchase

Members shall ensure that fishers on a fishing vessel that flies their flag and that enters a foreign port are entitled to repatriation in the event that the fisher’s work agreement has expired or has been terminated for justified reasons by the fisher or by the fishing vessel owner, or the fisher is no longer able to carry out the duties required under the work agreement or cannot be expected to carry them out in the specific circumstances. This also applies to fishers from that vessel who are transferred for the same reasons from the vessel to the foreign port.

2.	The cost of the repatriation referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be borne by the fishing vessel owner, except where the fisher has been found, in accordance with national laws, regulations or other measures, to be in serious default of his or her work agreement obligations.

Members shall prescribe, by means of laws, regulations or other measures, the precise circumstances entitling a fisher covered by paragraph 1 of this Article to repatriation, the maximum duration of service periods on board following which a fisher is entitled to repatriation, and the destinations to which fishers may be repatriated.

4.	If a fishing vessel owner fails to provide for the repatriation referred to in this Article, the Member whose flag the vessel flies shall arrange for the repatriation of the fisher concerned and shall be entitled to recover the cost from the fishing vessel owner.

5.	National laws and regulations shall not prejudice any right of the fishing vessel owner to recover the cost of repatriation under third party contractual agreements.