ITF report shows maritime cabotage policies are a necessary safeguard for national security and supply chain resilience
National security and strong national maritime policies go hand in hand – that is the message of the International Transport Workers’ Federation’s (ITF) new briefing on domestic maritime policies.
Drawing on examples from Australia, Brazil, Canada and the USA, Domestic Maritime Policies: a Focus on National Security outlines that national flag shipping and ‘cabotage’ – the reservation of a country’s domestic maritime commerce for its own citizens – is vital for maintaining supply chain resilience and, in turn, national security.
The importance of maritime cabotage policies is reflected in their wide uptake around the world. Seafarers’ Rights International research published this month shows that 105 states, approximately 85% of the world’s countries, currently have cabotage laws or policies in place – an increase on 91 countries in 2018.
Chris Given, President of the Seafarers’ International Union of Canada and the ITF Cabotage Task Force Chair, said: “Cabotage policies promote fair market competition, help ensure the retention of a qualified workforce, and create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.
“Simply put, it is in our national interest to ensure that we can transport goods and people without reliance on a non-national carrier or a non-national workforce.” (....)