Marine Advisory: 01/2013 - PARIS MOU STATES TO ENFORCE MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION ON 20 AUGUST 2013

SUBJECT: PARIS MOU STATES TO ENFORCE MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION ON 20 AUGUST 2013

Member States of the Paris MOU Port State Control regime that ratified the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) on or before 20 August will start MLC compliance inspections of all ships on 20 August 2013. In accordance with the “no more favorable treatment” provision in MLC, Article V, enforcement will be applied to all ships regardless of flag and regardless whether the vessels flag State has ratified the MLC. Vessels flagged in States that have not ratified MLC may be subject to delay in port.

Paris MOU guidance calls for a more detailed inspection of all ships without a Maritime Labour Certificate. A valid Maritime Labour Certificate will be accepted as prima facie evidence of compliance; however Paris MOU guidance calls for PSC inspectors to still make a tour of the vessel. Some States will use Labour Inspectors rather than PSC Inspectors to enforce MLC requirements.

Paris MOU member States that have not ratified the MLC will start compliance inspections 12 months after the date their ratification is accepted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Until then these States will not be able to enforce MLC, however they will continue to verify compliance with ILO147, as the relevant instrument for working and living conditions.

Time is running out for those ship owners that have not yet acted. The Liberian Administration is actively working with ship owners and operators, providing full MLC compliance services, including acceptance of Declarations of Maritime Labour Compliance. Over 160 specially trained MLC inspectors are inspecting Liberian flagged vessels in ports worldwide and issuing Maritime Labour Certificates. Additional inspectors are being trained.

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 Hamburg, Greece, London, Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, Dubai and Hong Kong.

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