Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

French Southern and Antarctic Territories

Unemployment Indemnity (Shipwreck) Convention, 1920 (No. 8) (Ratification: 1990)
Placing of Seamen Convention, 1920 (No. 9) (Ratification: 1990)
Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention, 1921 (No. 16) (Ratification: 1990)
Seamen's Articles of Agreement Convention, 1926 (No. 22) (Ratification: 1990)
Repatriation of Seamen Convention, 1926 (No. 23) (Ratification: 1990)
Officers' Competency Certificates Convention, 1936 (No. 53) (Ratification: 1990)
Minimum Age (Sea) Convention (Revised), 1936 (No. 58) (Ratification: 1990)
Food and Catering (Ships' Crews) Convention, 1946 (No. 68) (Ratification: 1990)
Certification of Ships' Cooks Convention, 1946 (No. 69) (Ratification: 1990)
Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention, 1946 (No. 73) (Ratification: 1990)
Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946 (No. 74) (Ratification: 1990)
Accommodation of Crews Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 92) (Ratification: 1990)
Accommodation of Crews (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1970 (No. 133) (Ratification: 1990)
Prevention of Accidents (Seafarers) Convention, 1970 (No. 134) (Ratification: 1990)
Seafarers' Annual Leave with Pay Convention, 1976 (No. 146) (Ratification: 1990)
Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 147) (Ratification: 1990)

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its reports that, since the implementation of Act No. 2005-412 of 3 May 2005, commercial vessels are registered in the French International Register (RIF) and that therefore only a few fishing boats are still registered in the French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF). It also notes that the TAAF have no permanent population. Thus, the maritime Conventions which are applicable in the TAAF and which do not cover fishing vessels are rendered moot for these territories. The Committee requests the Government to indicate any development to this situation. With regard to the Conventions which apply to fishing vessels, and in order to provide an overview on the issues relating to their application, the Committee considers it helpful to examine them in a single comment as follows.

Prevention of Accidents (Seafarers) Convention, 1970 (No. 134). Article 2. Statistics and investigations into maritime occupational accidents. The Committee recalls that it previously asked the Government to provide copies of reports of investigations established following maritime occupational accidents, as well as statistics on the number, nature, causes and consequences of occupational accidents on board fishing boats registered in the TAAF. While noting the Government’s reference to the activities of the French Marine Accident Investigation Office (BEAmer), the Committee observes that the BEAmer website indicates that, although it intervenes on the same basis in the overseas departments as in the mainland, the situation is different for the overseas territories, including the TAAF, for which the powers devolved to them are taken into account. The Committee requests the Government to indicate how the BEAmer can intervene in the TAAF and, in all cases, take the necessary measures to ensure that occupational accidents are investigated and properly documented and that detailed statistics on these accidents are established and analysed. It requests the Government to provide information in this regard.