Isle of Man Ship Registry published its Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) report for the year 2016.
The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) came into effect on 20th August 2013, to the Isle of Man, in line with the international enforcement date of the Convention. The aim of the MLC was to modernise labour standards for seafarers by prescribing:
- minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship including minimum age, training and qualifications, medical certificates and recruitment and placement;
- conditions of employment including wages, seafarers’ employment agreements, hours of work and rest, entitlement to leave, repatriation, compensation for loss and foundering and manning levels;
- standards of accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering; and
- levels of health protection including health and safety policies and programmes, shipowner’s liability and medical care.
Conclusions
In reviewing the MLC inspection regime and accident reports received in 2016 a number of factors have emerged.
- Changes to MLC regulations and Guidance have been made in 2016 and promulgated to the shipping industry. This primarily concerned the ship owner’s liability and updated Maritime Labour Notices.
- The Isle of Man system of inspection concerning MLC inspection has performed effectively to date but will be delegated and may be carried out Recognised Organisations form April 2017.
- Isle of Man inspectors attended 138 Isle of Man registered ships world wide and 8 companies on the Isle of Man in 2016.
- Of the deficiencies issued to ships the biggest source of deficiencies relates to seafarer employment agreements accounting for 25% of all deficiencies issued in 2016. This follows the same trend as previous years.
- Inspections of Isle of Man licensed companies yielded good results with no deficiencies.
- Seafarer documentation (ie qualifications, medical certificates and seafarer employment agreements) remains a continuous source of deficiencies relating to seafarers, ie 39% of Isle of Man MLC deficiencies and 23% of PSC MLC deficiencies issued to Isle of Man ships.
- Complaints concerning non-payment of wages and expenses accounted for 60% of seafarer complaints submitted to the Isle of Ship Registry in 2016.
- Of the inspections conducted by PSC 92% resulted in no MLC deficiencies or detentions. Of the remainder 2 ships were detained over MLC certification and Health and safety issues. Of the ships issued with deficiencies 45% related to issues concerning health & safety and accident prevention.
- In 2016 there were 20 minor injuries, 14 serious injuries and 1 seafarer fatality reported to IOMSR. The most common injuries sustained were major fractures and puncture wounds, cuts or laceration. Moving about the ship lead to 36% of seafarer injuries in 2016.
- No accidents were reported and no complaints were received from foreign flagged ships in Isle of Man territorial waters in 2016.
Further information may be found in the following report:
Source: Isle of Man Ship Registry