The Archives of Maersk Dubai Incident: A Guide
Collection Number: MS-8-203Collection processed and finding aid created by Trevor Pross, April 2004
Finding aid edited and electronic version prepared by Kathryn Harvey, August 2005
Collection Level Description
Title: Maersk Dubai Incident fonds
Dates: 1996-2000
Extent: 29.5 cm of textual records. -- 1 video cassette. -- 1 audio cassette
The Maersk Dubai incident occurred in May 1996. The Maersk Dubai was a container ship that docked in Halifax on May 24, 1996. It soon became known that four Filipino sailors on the ship witnessed their captain and ship’s officers throwing three stoways overboard to their deaths. After the Filipino sailors agreed to testify against the officers, they were threatened and harassed and their families in the Philippines were threatened and harassed.
The Concern for Seafarers Witnesses Society, a local organization that seeks to protect sailors who come forward as witnesses to crimes at sea, endeavored to help the witness sailors and protect them from harassment and persecution. The Concern for Seafarers Witnesses Society (or CSWS) also endeavored to help the witness sailors to stay in Canada and to bring the families of the witnesses to live in Canada because they were being threatened in the Phillipines.
The CSWS helped the sailors to apply for Landed Immigrant Status and, in February 1999, three of them were granted that status. They then applied to bring their families to Canada and their applications were approved. In 1999, the fourth seamen and his wife also were granted Minister’s Permits to remain in Canada.
History of the Concern for Seafarers Witnesses Society:
Citizens in Halifax formed a much-need support group for these sailors as they struggled through this difficult time. In July of 1996 they registered under the Nova Scotia Societies Act to become the Concern for Seafarers Witnesses Society. The society offered moral and financial support to the sailors and their families and helped them to get protection and much needed income. The CSWS supported the sailors as they worked through the immigration process and as they dealt with coming to live in Canada and finding new work.
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In December of 2002, this collection was donated to the Dalhousie Archives by the Concern for Seafarers Witnesses Society.
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No further accruals are expected.
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The fond includes letters, immigration papers, promotional materials, petitions, affidavits, evidence and general documentation of the activities of the Concern for Seafarers Witnesses Society (CSWS) as they endeavored to help and support the sailors of the Maersk Dubai.
Audio-Visual Records / ca. 1996-2000
Correspondence of the CSWS on the Maersk Dubai incident / 1996-2000
Evidence and immigration documents for the Maersk Dubai Incident Gathered by the CSWS / 1996-1999
Letters of Support for the Filipino Sailors and their Families from the community and from members of the CSWS / 1997-1999
Meeting minutes and membership for the CSWS / 1996-2000, n.d.
Promotional material for the Maersk Dubai Incident created by CSWS / 1997?-1998
Reports from CSWS on the Maersk Dubai Incident / 1999
Three files containing personal information are closed. Folder 1.8 contains a membership list; folder 2.2 contains petitions; folder 2.3 contains copies of immigration documents.
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[Identification of item], Maersk Dubai Incident fonds, MS-8-203, Box [box number], Folder [folder number], Dalhousie University Archives and Special Collections, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Combined Series and File Level Descriptions
Date:ca. 1996-2000
Extent: 1 video cassette. -- 1 audio cassette
Scope and Content:
This series contains audio visual records of interviews relating to the Maersk Dubai Incident.
Folder - 1.6
Video cassette labelled "Jun and Ariel Interview (14 mins)"; audio cassette labelled "Mr Flemming Holm"
ca. 1996-2000
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Date:1996-2000
Extent: 10 cm of textual records
Scope and Content:
This series contains correspondence to and from the Concern for Seafarers Witnesses Society (CSWS) in regards to the Maersk Dubai incident.
File Level Descriptions
Folder - 1.4
1996
Folder - 1.5
1997
Folder - 1.3
January to June 1998
Folder - 1.1
July to December 1998
Folder - 1.2
1999-2000
Folder - 1.8
Past and present members of the Concern for Seafarer Witnesses Society - Membership list removed from Box 1, Folder 2
1999-2000
Closed
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Date:1996-1999
Extent: 7 cm of textual records
Scope and Content:
This series contains immigration documents, refugee claims, affidavits, evidence and sworn statements from the sailors involved with the Maersk Dubai incident.
File Level Descriptions
Folder - 2.1
Refugee claims for sailors of the Maersk Dubai
1997
Folder - 2.3
Immmigration documents and accompanying correspondence
1996-1998
Closed
Folder - 2.4
Sworn Statements and Affidavits from the Sailors of the Maersk Dubai
1996-1997
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Date:1997-1999
Extent: 6 cm of textual records
Scope and Content:
This series contains letters of support and signed petitions of support from community members, community and church groups and from the children of the sailors, written in support of the sailors involved with the Maersk Dubai incident.
Folder - 2.5
Letters of Support for the Sailors of the Maersk Dubai and their Families
1996-1997
Folder - 2.8
Letters of Support for the Sailors of the Maersk Dubai and their Families
1998
Folder - 2.6
Letters of Support for the Sailors of the Maersk Dubai and their Families
1998-1999
Folder - 2.7
Letters of Support for the Sailors of the Maersk Dubai from their Children
1996 and n.d.
Folder - 2.9
Letters of Support for the Sailors of the Maersk Dubai with Express Intent to Donate Funds
1998
Folder - 2.2
Petitions of support for the sailors of the Maersk Dubai
1998-1999
Closed
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Date:1996-2000, n.d.
Extent: 2.5 cm of textual records
Scope and Content:
Includes the minutes, agendas, notes and a membership list (n.d.) from meetings held by the CSWS about the Maersk Dubai incident.
Folder - 2.10
Minutes of the CSWS
1996
Folder - 2.11
Minutes of the CSWS
1997
Folder - 2.12
Minutes of the CSWS
1998
Folder - 2.13
Minutes of the CSWS
1999
Folder - 2.14
Financial audit statement of the CSWS
2000
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Date:1997?-1998
Extent: 2 cm of textual records
Scope and Content:
This series includes miscellaneous promotional materials created by the CSWS to promote their efforts and gather support for the sailors involved with the Maersk Dubai incident. Includes fax cover sheets, meeting notices and pamphlets.
Folder - 2.15
Publicity and notes regarding the Maersk Dubai Incident created by the CSWS
1997?-1998
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Date:1999
Extent: 2 cm of textual records
Scope and Content:
This series contains reports written by the CSWS about the Maersk Dubai Incident as a whole.
File Level Descriptions
Folder -
1.7
"Justice for Those Who Sought Justice for Others"--Report on the Filipino Sailors of the Maersk Dubai, by the CSWS
25 Nov. 1999
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