CMNT_TITLE

Article 1(c) and (d) of the Convention. In its previous comments, the Committee referred to sections 221 to 224 and 225(1)(b), (c) and (e) of the 1894 United Kingdom Merchant Shipping Act under which certain breaches of labour discipline by seamen not endangering the ship or the life or health of persons may be punished with imprisonment (involving an obligation to perform labour) and deserting seamen may be forcibly returned to their ship to perform their duties.

The Committee noted previously that the draft Merchant Shipping Act dealing with Grenadian ships and vessels which was introduced in Parliament had not been proceeded in view of current efforts to codify a regional Merchant Shipping Code.

The Committee noted the indication by the Government in its latest report, received in 1995, that efforts to codify a regional Merchant Shipping Code proceeded very slowly and that a new draft eventually had to be prepared, which was to be submitted for parliamentary approval during the last quarter of 1994.

The Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position to indicate in its next report that the necessary legislative changes have been made, and that it will supply a copy of the text adopted.