On the 13th of June 2025, the Minister of Employment and Human Resources of the Republic of Kiribati, Honourable Auria Kitina, leading an official delegation, paid a courtesy meeting to the IHB Shipping CO EAD management in their premises in Varna. The visit of the high-ranking guests is part of their round trip for the participation of their country in the 113th Session of the ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
With an opening speech, H.E. Kitina pointed out the benefits the company has brought to the island marine community for improving their well-being and strengthening their spirit and resilience.
On the other hand, IHB Shipping management expressed their gratitude to the Kiribati Government for their responsiveness and efforts invested in the accomplishment of the common goals towards efficient and safe exploitation of the vessels under management.
The bilateral meeting between foreign government officials and private business entities has been unprecedented so far.
Notably, in May 2024, IHB Shipping CO EAD and KIOSU, affiliated with the ITF, signed a collective bargaining agreement, under which seamen of the Republic of Kiribati initially joined the crew of m/v Antheia in the port of Cadiz, Spain only to be later followed by crew changes on all other vessels managed by the company.
The collaboration initiated between MEHR and the ship managing company comes as a breath of fresh air to the islanders after the severe economic losses caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic within 2020-2023 being suffered by the local community mainly due to the withdrawal of a large European consortium from the local labour market.
Despite the presence of such serious operational challenges as significant time difference, lack of means for the issuance of seafarer’s identity documents in compliance with ILO C185, complicated transportation logistics, extremely high transportation costs, visa restrictions etc. IHB Shipping management and their team share the unanimous opinion that I-Kiribati seamen are properly trained, duly qualified, well experienced and highly motivated to work in multinational environment. Their immanent diligence, modesty, discipline and kindness facilitated their immediate and full integration into the company teams.
Both parties declared their readiness for launching specific initiatives to expand the successful collaboration in the near future.
The meeting was closed with the exchange of greetings and well wishes.
