The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has warned Allseas Group to immediately rename Pieter Schelte, a platform installation/decommissioning and pipelay vessel christened after a convicted Nazi war criminal.
Contracted by Shell to service its Brent platforms on the UK continental shelf, the Panamanian-flagged ship was named in honour of the Allseas Group owner's father, Pieter Schelte Heerema, who was a Nazi Waffen-SS officer.
ITF President Paddy Crumlin said that under its current name the vessel should be banned from UK or European waters.
"For Allseas to name its vessel after a convicted Nazi war criminal is utterly shameful," he said.
"It is worth noting that Allseas has a long history of seeking to drive down safety standards and working conditions for seafarers the world over. It is this group that the Australian government is taking its lead from when it comes to driving changes to its offshore visa arrangements."
With a a gross tonnage of 403,342, Pieter Schelte is considered the world's largest crane ship.
ITF General Secretary Steve Cotton said it is "almost unthinkable" that Allseas would have a vessel honouring a senior Nazi war criminal operating in European waters.
"It is nothing short of a grave insult," he said. "The Pieter Schelte should not be permitted to operate until it changes its name."
The ITF is a global union federation of transport workers' trade unions.
Source IHS.
Topic: ITF warns Allseas to drop Nazi ship name (Read 3424 times)