SEAFARERS must ignore “sly, spurious and sinister half truths” from the EU claiming that trade deals will level the playing field in global shipping, maritime union Nautilus heard yesterday.

The union has overwhelmingly passed policy as its conference opposing the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the US and the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

Nautilus young maritime professionals forum chair Martyn Gray said that TTIP would decimate the US Jones Act, which ensures that ships travelling between US ports do not fly under foreign flags to exploit loopholes in employment rights and health and safety legislation.

“While this might appear to be good news for struggling European seafarers and struggling European traditional national registries, the only benefit from the annihilation of protectionism in the US maritime industry would be to those who already operate at the lowest common denominator,” Mr Gray told delegates.

“The half-brained, half truths being spread by the EU commission on leveling the playing field … show TTIP, and those attempting to stand against the 3.26 million people who have signed a petition to cease negotiations, to be sly, spurious and sinister in motivation.

“We cannot become more equal by undercutting each other, but must stand shoulder to shoulder as seafarers.”

Nautilus, which represents seafarers in Britain, Holland and Switzerland, has now pledged to work with the European Transport Workers Federation to urge the EU to introduce a European equivalent to the Jones Act as an alternative to the trade deals.