Tag: ILO Convention

Becoming the fifth EU member State to ratify MLC 2006 Convection On 19 September 2011, the Government of Luxembourg deposited with the International Labour Office the instruments of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) and the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (Revised), 2003 (No. 185). Luxembourg becomes the fifth EU member State, after Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain and Latvia, to ratify the MLC, 2006 and the 22nd member to ratify Convention No. 185.In depositing the instruments of ratification, the Permanent representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Jean Feyder, stated:"By depositing both instruments, Luxembourg will have ratified 100 ILO Conventions since becoming a member in 1920 out of which 85 are in force today. We hope that without much further delay many other countries will ratify the MLC, 2006 enabling the Convention to produce its effect and promote global quality standards in worldwide shipping. The new Convention, already known, along with SOLAS, MARPOL and the STCW conventions, as the "fourth pillar" in a maritime regulatory regime is global in scope and ambition, providing a level playing field for shipowners in which all parts of the international shipping industry can work and prosper. Globe-girdling merchant vessels shall ...

The awards will be presented at a ceremony at ILO in Geneva The judging panel for this year's International Seafarers' Welfare Awards has been announced. The awards will be presented at a ceremony at the International Labour Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland, on the opening night of the Maritime Labour Convention tripartite meeting on December 12. Netherlands-based Marco Polo Seatrade has been granted court permission to continue trading, a significant step forward in its restructuring process.

It is crucial that the same regulations re afety, environment and seafarers apply to all ships Governments must not impede the smooth operation of a global maritime regulatory regime by failing to ratify and implement crucial maritime conventions, warns the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).It is crucial that the same regulations governing matters such as safety, environmental protection, liability and seafarers' working conditions apply to all ships in international trade and that the same laws apply to all parts of the voyage, advises ICS - the principal international trade association for shipowners, representing 80% of the world merchant fleet.ICS and its sister organisation, the International Shipping Federation (ISF), have produced a campaign brochure (launched this week ) which reiterates the importance of maritime treaty ratification and which is intended to help member national shipowner associations lobby their governments to support the global regulatory system that shipping requires."A global industry requires global rules." said ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe."The failure of new Conventions to enter into force or become widely ratified also gives encouragement to the promotion of unwelcome unilateral or regional regulation."The brochure, available from national associations or online via www.ics-shipping.org <http://www.ics-shipping.org>, provides updated information on the progress of a ...

information provided by the UK P&I Club The UK P&I Club issues bulletin regarding Restrictions lifted on Philippine crew adopted by Brazil as follows:The Brazilian government have acquiesced to pleas to relax immigration controls affecting Philippine crewmen under the ILO C108 & C185 regulations adopted by Brazil earlier this year.The position of the Brazilian government to suspend the ability for foreign seafarers not in possession of a passport or seaman's discharge book from a country which has ratified ILO C 108 or C185 to go ashore or to disembark. This had consequences to a vessels ability to affect crew changes in Brazil.However it has been reported to the Club that the port of Santos has received instruction from the General Coordination of the Immigration Affairs in Brasilia that such an imposition against Philippine seafarers has been revoked in all Brazilian ports.The result of this is that, Philippine seafarers holding a Seaman's Book or valid Passport will be allowed to sign in/out or come ashore. Presently this only applies in the port of Santos but it is expected that similar instructions have been sent to the other Brazilian ports and therefore restrictions have been lifted there also. This ruling applies only ...

The 12 Filipino seamen were not paid their on-board salari The Department of Labor and Employment has brought to the International Labor Organization its complaint against the Greek owners of a ship for abandonment of 12 Filipino seafarers in Spain.Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on Thursday said the agency has submitted to the ILO a report on the incident involving the vessel MV Nafto Cement XVI."We would like the international maritime community to know that we will not allow this kind of maltreatment among Filipino seafarers," explained Baldoz in filing a report before the ILO.The agency reports such cases to the ILO, which maintains all cases of abandonment, as part of its "reportorial requirements," added the labor executive.The Greek-owned ship was apprehended by port authorities when it docked at the Port of Valencia in Spain in April due to unpaid claims from various creditors, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.The 12 Filipino seamen also reported to the government that they were not paid their on-board salaries and overtime pay for eight months, including allotments to their families.Stranded for four months in Valencia, the seafarers were immediately repatriated last month after labor officials visited them at the port.Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

CINS - Widespread attention is drawn to major maritime incidents Widespread attention is inevitably drawn to major maritime incidents and natural catastrophes, such as the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. However, liner operators have individually been concerned about lesser problems that regularly disrupt operations and endanger lives, property and the environment. Most of these are successfully resolved by a ship's crew, often with the assistance of shore-based experts; many have the potential to lead to major incidents, such as Hanjin Pennsylvania or Hyundai Fortune.Information relating to lesser incidents has so far been anecdotal and mostly kept within individual lines' marine operations departments. Now a number of the lines have put their heads together to increase awareness of such incidents and therefore improve safety surrounding container movements and the integrity of the supply chain.A committee was formed last year, chaired by MSC and comprising CMA CGM, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd, and Maersk, as a step towards this greater awareness.As a result the Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) and associated database, known as CINSnet, through which key data can be captured, has been created. The COA (Container Owners' Association) has agreed to host the database. The TT Club, as a key insurer for the transport ...

Seafarers have human rights too The upcoming Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 is a challenge to the entire maritime community. "Seafarers have human rights too" was the headline of a commentary on the new International Labour Organization (ILO) convention when it was passed. The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) regulates working and living conditions for seafarers and helps to create conditions of fair competition for ship owners. The ILO convention replaces earlier labour conventions and is seen as the "fourth pillar" of maritime regulation beside SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW conventions.

It reflects the long standing attachment to ILO principles The Director of the International Labour Standards Department, Ms Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, received today the instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) from Ambassador Steffen Smidt, Permanent representative of Denmark to the United Nations. Denmark becomes the third EU member state, after Spain and Bulgaria, to ratify the landmark Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.In receiving the instrument of ratification, Ms Doumbia-Henry stated: "The ratification of the MLC, 2006, by Denmark reflect the country's long standing attachment to ILO's principles and values and its commitment to secure decent working and living conditions for the seafarers employed on board its ships. In ratifying the MLC, 2006, Denmark becomes the third EU member State to implement the EU Council Decision of 2007 authorizing member States to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 in the interest of the European Community. This ratification sends a strong message to the remaining 24 EU members to come on board to enable the world's seafarers to benefit from this Bill of Rights and shipowners from a level-playing field."In depositing the instrument, Ambassador Steffen Smidt stated: "Decent working conditions for seafarers and fair competition for shipowners are very ...

Due to not taking responsibility by the ministry Bangladesh process to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, an important convention of International Labour Organisation (ILO) for ensuring rights of seamen, has remained stuck up for three years due to not taking responsibility by the ministry concerned.The convention ratification process started in 2008 under the Labour Ministry in its capacity as the authority dealing with ILO.Officials said due to lack of knowledge about seafarers or seamen, the Labour Ministry did not make much progress in the process of ratification of the ILO convention during the last three years.An official said the shipping ministry has helped the labour ministry in starting the tripartite process, but that was not enough for the ratification.He said a fund from International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has also been received to carry out the process.However, officials said the government has almost completed the works which a country is required to execute after the ratification. These include biometric identity cards for the crew and the 'discharge book', considered a lifelong passport or professional document of a seafarer containing all related information like which ports a mariner touches etc.The general manager (GM) of Haqs and Sons of the country's biggest seafarer ...

The first Asian country to ratify MLC 2006 Singapore has ratified the International Labour Organizations (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) with the full support of tripartite partners the seafarer unions and the National Trades Union Congress, as well as the maritime industry and the Singapore National Employers Federation.This was announced yesterday on 14 June, by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Education Mr Hawazi Daipi, at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, and the instrument of ratification was deposited earlier today.In submitting the instrument of ratification, Mr. LOH Khum Yean, Permanent Secretary of Singapores Ministry of Manpower, stated: Singapore is pleased to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 with the full support of our tripartite partners. This is a significant step for Singapore, as we commit to applying the Conventions provisions to Singapore-registered ships and ships that call at our ports, as well as to achieve decent working conditions for seafarers.As a responsible flag State, Singapore had actively participated in the discussions that led to the adoption of this important Convention, which consolidates and updates over 60 ILO Conventions and Recommendations. We look forward to it entering into force in due course.Mr LAM Yi Young, Chief Executive ...