Tag: MLC Convention

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.

MLC 2006 formula requires special training Dominick Devlin is a special advisor on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) and he is one of the experts involved in the Maritime Labour Academy, a programme of specialized courses aimed at strengthening the capacity of governments, shipowners and seafarers in the application of the Convention. In this interview, Dominick Devlin explains why the MLC, 2006 formula requires special training and why this is essential for the enforcement of the Convention.What is so innovative about the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 to require such a specific training programme? The MLC, 2006 is an immense endeavour and there has been nothing like it since 1919, when the first international labour convention was adopted. The MLC, 2006 places together about 36 existing Conventions, it consolidates them, and when countries ratify it they are not allowed to "pick and choose" between the various parts, like in some other ILO Conventions.What makes it easy for these countries to ratify is a principle of firmness and flexibility: firmness on making sure that the rights of the seafarers are enforced but with a considerable degree of flexibility for the governments, in the way that they will deliver those rights.On the ...

The requirements for Hong Kong ships The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is currently drafting domestic legislation to give effect to the Maritime Labour Convention. In order to allow all concerned parties to have a better understanding and advance preparation in implementing the Convention for Hong Kong ships once the Convention is in effect, the Hong Kong Marine Department (HKMD) has drafted the requirements for Hong Kong ships with respect to the 14 items of the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC)- Part I that must be inspected for certification purpose.Shipowners and ship managers for Hong Kong ships, in particular, are encouraged to prepare their DMLC-Part II to develop measures corresponding to the draft requirements of DMLC-Part I.For more information, click here.Source: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

This authorizes certain ROs to carry out inspections and issue certificates under the MLC, 2006 The Republic of the Marshall Islands ratified the MLC, 2006 on 25 September 2007. Marine Notice No. 2-011-33 establishes the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator's Inspection and Certification Program to implement the MLC, 2006, which governs maritime labor conditions and sets minimum standards for the working and living conditions of seafarers aboard ships as applicable.The Inspection and Certification Program authorizes certain Recognized Organizations (ROs) including Bureau Veritas, as established under separate written agreement, to carry out inspections and issue certificates under the MLC, 2006 on behalf of the Marshall IslandsIn addition to the relevant Marshall Islands Laws and Regulations presently in effect with respect to maritime labor standards, ship owners and operators are encouraged to give effect to provisions of Marine Notice No. 2-011-33 on a voluntary basis in order to establish the necessary measures for verifying compliance in anticipation of the entry into force of the MLC, 2006.Maritime Labor Certificates issued during the voluntary period prior to the MLC 2006 coming into full force and effect shall be convertible to full MLC 2006 certificates when the MLC, 2006 comes into force.For more ...

Being the first manning agency to be certified by class society in the Philippines Bureau Veritas has certified Philippines-based manning agency Maryville Manila for compliance to the Maritime Labour Convention MLC2006 on a voluntary basis making it the first manning agency to be certified by class society in the Philippines.Claude Maillot, VP Ships in Service Management at Bureau Veritas, said: The readiness of Maryville Manila to move towards voluntary compliance and certification under MLC2006 in advance of the convention coming into force demonstrates both the quality of the organisation and the forward thinking of its management. We have so far certified one seafarer manning office in the UK and its branch office in India, two in Greece and we have published a Guidance Note (NI 563) to facilitate the certification process. We expect other manning offices be looking for certification before the convention enters into force, probably next year.Emmanuel Danion, Bureau Veritas Country Chief Executive for the Philippines, added: The Filipino manning industry is very important both here in the Philippines and as the biggest resource of skilled manpower for global shipping. It is most important that manning agencies are forward looking and ready to comply with global standards, as ...

The purpose of this circular is to inform users about the current stage of adaptation of MLC 2006 The Panama Maritime Authority issues Merchant Marine Circular MMC-227 regarding Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006).The purpose of this circular is to inform users about the current stage of the adaptation of the national regulation according to the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, (MLC, 2006) as well as the issuance of the Declaration of the Maritime Labour Compliance.To view more information, click here.Source: Panama Maritime Authority

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 ...

Hosted by AMSA on May 3-6 AMSA hosted the Asia-Pacific- A Regional Dialogue on the Maritime Labour Convention conference in Cairns from 3-6 May.The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 is an emerging international global maritime priority, setting minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship including conditions of employment, hours of work and rest, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, occupational health and safety protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection.The conference was opened by AMSA Chief Executive Officer Graham Peachey who welcomed maritime regulators, shipowners, the International Transport Workers' Federation, seafarer welfare organisations, shipping agents and classification societies from 20 Asia-Pacific nations, noting that over 60 per cent of the worlds seafarers are from the region.Wednesdays keynote speaker, Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, Director of the International Labour Standards Department of the International Labour Organization (ILO) spoke about the critical importance of the Asia-Pacific region to deliver decent working conditions and a level playing field in a global industry. She advised that the MLC was likely to be ratified in 2011 and come into effect 12 months later.Thursdays keynote speaker, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport described the MLC as the fourth pillar of ...

Marine Notice by the Republic of the Marshall Islands The Republic of the Marsall Islands issued Notice which applies to all Marshall Islands flagged ships and their seafarers, to which the MLC, 2006 applies in accordance with Article II of the MLC, 2006 upon its entry into force.For further information, click here.Source: Republic of the Marshall Islands