LEAVING the EU provides a huge opportunity to end the race to the bottom on seafarers’ rights, RMT leader Mick Cash told STUC delegates yesterday.

Addressing the Save Our Seafarers (SOS) 2020 fringe meeting in Aviemore, Mr Cash said that of 500,000 mariners working in EU waters, just 40 per cent were EU nationals.

Abuse of flags of convenience to allow unscrupulous employers to replace British seafarers with cheap, super-exploited labour from abroad had decimated the industry since Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979, delegates heard; in the following decade, the third-largest merchant navy in the world dropped to 27th place.

“Anyone who wants a debate on what free movement means in terms of labour rights can take a look at the seafaring industry,” Mr Cash pointed out, citing Ukrainians working on ferries operating out of Weymouth paid just £2.45 an hour.

“That’s why we supported leaving the EU and why we still support it.

“When a boat goes from one EU port to another EU port, why can’t we enforce a minimum wage?

“It’s time for change and we can use opportunities like Brexit to keep employment in this country.”

RMT Scotland regional organiser Gordon Martin agreed, saying he was “fed up” hearing people say Brexit was a terrible thing.

“We need to get the right politicians in place to deliver it, but the EU has been no friend to maritime workers,” he said.

Nautilus International national ferry organiser Micky Smyth said the industry should be made to invest in training young seafarers in this country — and said that enforcing a level playing field on pay would see more workers opting to go to sea.