MLC will come into force on August 20th, 2013
In May 2013 the Port State Control Committee has adopted amendments to theMemorandum to include the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) as relevantinstrument of the Paris MoU. Thus making the MLC requirements officially subjectto port State control, including the possibility for more detailed inspections,expanded inspections and the possibility of detention in serious cases of noncompliance or where hazardous conditions exist.
The MLC applies to all ships engaged in commercial activities. Internationalcertification is required for all ships of 500GT and over, making internationalvoyages. The requirements of the MLC have to be implemented on board at theentry into force date.
The ILO has adopted a Resolution requesting port States to allow ships to continueto operate without a Maritime Labour Certificate (and Declaration of MaritimeLabour Compliance) during a period of one year after 20 August 2013. ILO invitedthe member States to take a pragmatic approach in this respect during the firstyear.
New guidelines for Port State Control Officers have been agreed to implement thepractical issues of the new Convention in the inspection regime.
Only members of the Paris MoU who have ratified the MLC on or before 20 August2012 are entitled to conduct PSC inspections from 20 August 2013.
As a result thefollowing twelve member States will start enforce the MLC: Bulgaria, Canada,Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the RussianFederation, Spain and Sweden.
Members of the Paris MoU who have ratified the MLC after 20 August 2012 willfirst be entitled to conduct PSC inspections 12 months after the date of thisMembers ratification. For these members enforcement of the Merchant Shipping Convention (ILO 147) and the protocol of 1996 to the Merchant ShippingConvention (ILO P147) will initially prevail.
Ships from non-ratifying States should not receive any more favourable treatmentthan ships from States that have ratified the Convention. Under thesecircumstances, the ship will receive a more detailed inspection to ensurecompliance with the MLC.
The European Maritime Safety Agency has implemented modifications to theTHETIS database used by the PSC Authorities to accommodate MLC inspections.
Visit official website of the Paris MoU at http://www.parismou.org/