Protection in case of piracy

​​​If a ship enters waters or calls at ports representing a risk of piracy, the shipowner is obliged to take care of the seafarers. The shipowner must take measures beforehand to prepare the ship and the crew for any attacks, to prevent attacks and to handle incidents where the ship is attacked, including if the crewmembers are taken hostage.

As a seafarer you are entitled to terminate your service on board immediately and, otherwise, in the first port or roads that the ship calls at if the ship is, before leaving the port of departure, ordered to enter an area representing a risk of the ship being seized by belligerents, being exposed to war damage or to a menacing situation equal to this, such as piracy, or if such a risk has been considerably increased.

Any requirement to terminate the service on board must be forwarded as soon as possible after the seafarer has become aware of the condition. The master is responsible for making the crew aware of any possible risk by means of posters or in any other manner.

If the seafarer terminates service because of a risk of the ship being seized by belligerents, being exposed to war damage or to a menacing situation equal to this or because such a risk has been considerably increased, both the seafarer and the shipowner or the employer can give notice of termination in accordance with the provisions of either the employment contract or those of section 6 or 37 of the act on seafarers’ conditions of employment, etc.

Contact

Seafarers, Certification and Social Affairs