ITF seafarers’ section chair David Heindel said the 36 year sentence handed down to Captain Lee Joon-Seok was “excessive and unjust”.
"The ITF believes that the judgment is based more on emotion and the need to find someone to blame than justice,” he said. “The sentencing of the captain and the other seafarers is too severe and does not take into account the actions or lack of actions by others in the industry.
On Tuesday Lee was found guilty of gross negligence after the Sewol sank and of the 476 onboard 304 drowned, some 250 of them school children. As well as the master the chief engineer of the ferry was jailed for 30 years, while 13 other crew members were given jail sentences of up to 20 years.
Meanwhile Seafarers Rights International executive director, Deirdre Fitzpatrick, said: “The ramifications of this case are far ranging, raising many questions regarding the circumstances of this particular ferry disaster and the ferry industry internationally.
“These ramifications need to be explored over the ensuing months both nationally and internationally so that lessons can be learned to prevent as far as possible a repetition of this tragedy.”
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