M/S Finnhansa Crew’s Employment Status Hangs in Balance

The crew of m/s Finnhansa may be facing lay-offs as the vessel’s owner Finnlines faces hurdles on how to keep its profitability afloat.

Finnlines Plc has started employer-employee co-operation negotiations concerning the crew of 36 people serving m/s Finnhansa.

The company said that the operative use of the vessel has been unprofitable for a longer period, adding that the changes in environmental legislation, especially the so-called sulphur directive entering into force January1st, 2015, have brought the company to make initial plans concerning the sale of the vessel.

The realisation of these plans may result in lay-offs or in the termination of all employment contracts of the crew.

If realised, the plans do not affect the provision of maritime liner services or the service level offered to the customers.

Finnhansa sails between Rostock and Helsinki, belonging to the Hansa-class of the Finnlines’ fleet.

The sentiment across the shipping industry is that, although welcomed, sulphur emission cuts may trigger unforseen chain reactions such as the rise of CO2 emissions due to the increase in road shipping, which might lead to serious road congestions.

It is also feared that countless sea faring jobs might be inadvertently put at risk.

It is estimated that the refining of the low sulphur fuel required to meet the 2015 emission control area regulations in Europe alone will pump an additional 12 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff; July 3, 2014