THE Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore has introduced a transitional arrangement for all national-registered vessels to continue to operate after August 20
MPA to insist on ILO labour certificates on large Singapore flagged ships
THE Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore has introduced a transitional arrangement for all national-registered vessels to continue to operate after August 20 when the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) comes into effect.
Under the UN's International Labour Organisation convention, all vessels on the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) ordinarily engaged in commercial activities and those over 500 gross tonnes are required to carry and maintain a Maritime Labour Certificate and a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC).
There will be a transition period while Singapore's national laws and regulations are being promulgated. The ILO has requested to give due consideration to allowing ships to continue to operate for a one year period following August 20 without the Maritime Labour Certificate and the DMLC.
To facilitate the transition to full MLC certification, MPA requires all SRS ships of 500 gross tonnage and above to obtain a statement of compliance by August 20. The statement of compliance will serve as proof of compliance with the requirements of the MLC during the transition period, and is to be carried on board until the ship is issued with a Maritime Labour Certificate.
After the promulgation of Singapore's national laws and regulations, all SRS ships of 500 gross tonnage and above are to be issued with a Maritime Labour Certificate by March 31 2014.
Norwegian training specialist Seagull has urged seafarers and shore-based staff alike to know their rights and obligations in the event of non-compliance with the new United Nation's Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), reports London's Tanker Operator.
Finland, Greece, Malta, France, Nigeria, South Africa and Barbados have each ratified the convention recently, ensuring that it will come into force, as planned, on August 20, replacing 37 existing International Labour Organisation (ILO) maritime conventions and related recommendations adopted since 1920.Seagull warns of MLC penalties
New ILO rules establishes minimum requirements for almost all aspects of working conditions for seafarers and sets out the seafarer's rights to decent conditions of work. These include conditions of employment, hours of work and rest, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection.
Seagull sells a DNV SeaSkill certified MLC 2006 distance learning course package to help shore-based personnel, masters and crew to comply with the convention, covering flag state inspection and certification and the consequences of non-ratification.
