Marine Advisory: 12/2012 - MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION ENTERS INTO FORCE

24 August 2012 Marine Advisory: 12/2012

SUBJECT: MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION ENTERS INTO FORCE

On 20 August the International Labour Organization announced the Philippines became the 30th country to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC), thus fulfilling the remaining Convention requirement for entry into force in 12 months’ time.

Ships subject to the MLC must comply with Convention regulations by 20 August 2013. With over an estimated 40,000 ships that must be inspected and certified and Port States preparing for compliance boarding’s and enforcement, ship owners and operators are strongly encouraged to act now to avoid possible delays in certification and in port.

The Liberian Administration is providing full MLC compliance services, including all necessary reviews, approvals, inspections and certifications. 150 specially trained MLC inspectors are inspecting Liberian flagged vessels in ports worldwide and issuing Maritime Labour Certificates. Additional inspectors will be available in the near future. The Administration is actively working with ship owners and operators, accepting their vessels Declarations of Maritime Labour Compliance and issuing Maritime Labour Certificates. Experience has shown that companies are already in general compliance and what remains is sorting out the necessary documentary evidence.

Time is of the essence and there is a critical time savings with using the Liberian Administration’s MLC services and consulting directly with the decision maker on all compliance issues, including gap analysis, consultation on acceptable interpretations, alternative compliance, substantial equivalencies and exemptions. The Administration is working as well on the possibility for harmonization of MLC inspections with annual safety inspections and other on board audits.

For specific information on Liberia’s compliance services and special block fee arrangement, contact the Maritime Labour Department at: Tel: +1 703 790 3434 or Email: mlc@liscr.com or contact one of our Regional Offices in London, Hamburg, Greece, Dubai, Singapore, Tokyo or Hong Kong.

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