Section 54Sec./Art. 54

Onboard and Onshore Grievance Machinery. - All ocean-going ships covered by this Act are require to have fair, effective, and expeditious onboard and onshore grievance or complaint resolution mechanisms readily accessible, at no cost to the seafarer.

Any grievance or complaint shall first be referred to the appropriate grievance mechanism provided under this section. In cases where a seafarer is a member of a legitimate trade union organization and covered by a CBA, the seafarer shall be assisted by a union-designated representative in the proceedings. Any agreement reached at the grievance machinery level must be in writing, duly signed by the parties, and shall be final and binding between them.