New procedures for dealing with the exploitation of seafarers in Irish waters need to be put in place immediately, the International Transport Federation (ITF) has warned.
ITF inspector Ken Fleming, has called for the Government and shipping industry to agree the new procedures to stop seafarers "being used as pawns in turf wars between various agencies and commercial enterprises".
He warned that "sooner or later a tragedy is going to occur if we do not address this deficit in public policy".
"Last month we had the spectacle of a fire-damaged vessel, the West Sailor, drifting off the south-west coast for well over 24 hours while it was debated who would foot the bill for a tow," said Mr Fleming.
"Now we have the crew of the Fortune I stranded a few hundred yards from dry land because of a similar lack of co-ordination between State agencies and private business interests."
He said "these situations arise because regulation is based on the assumption that working on a ship is the same as working in a factory or office on dry land".
Highlighting the plight of the Fortune I, he called for the Dublin Port Authority, which owns Greenore, to "give special clearance for the Fortune I to enter either Greenore or Dublin port so that the crew can come ashore".
Ireland "can and should, be a world leader in ending this abuse".
He added: "We are an island economy, whose prosperity is totally dependent on the sea. What could be more appropriate than for us to set an example to others?"
He said that "the fact that similar, appalling situations arise elsewhere in the world is no excuse for ignoring our obligations".
The ITF and Siptu were willing to sit down at any time with the departments of marine and transport, rescue services, port authorities, shipping agents and stevedores to set up a system of protocols to put the safety and welfare of seafarers first, ensuring they could be brought on to dry land while outstanding commercial issues were addressed.
Some 1,500 seafarers "disappear" every year, and a significant number jump ship when in port and attempt to earn a decent living ashore, he said.
However, "many of them are victims of one of the most ruthless and unregulated sectors of the globalised economy," Mr Fleming said.