Dock workers union stir

MUMBAI, NOV 22: The Transport and Dock Workers8217; Union and the National Union of Seafarers of India have boycotted two more Flags of Convenience FOC ships. According to Ramrao Babade, secretary of the Dock Workers8217; Union, the two vessels, Phaethom berthed at No 6 Indira Dock and Tomary berthed at No 9 Victoria, were boycotted as part of the worldwide agitation against FOC ships. Two merchant vessels were arrested in Mumbai harbour for not possessing an International Transport Workers8217; Federation approved agreement. Both ships were FOCs, flying flags of countries like Panama and Liberia which do not have the strict inspection norms that European countries have.