Scope of application

Ship operators, ship management companies, and captains, etc.

The 2022 Amendment to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 will come into effect on December 23, 2024. Some of these amendments require action by the performing member states, while others need to be implemented by the shipowner company.

Suggest that the shipowner review the procedures related to the following matters

1. Standard A3.1 and Guideline B3.1.11:

Ensure that the entertainment facilities on board include social networking to meet the special needs of seafarers, including reasonable access to ship shore telephone communication (if any) and Internet access. Any fees for using these services should be reasonable.

2. Standard A3.2:

Provide free food and drinking water, ensuring a nutritionally balanced diet with sufficient quantity and quality. The preparation of food should comply with hygiene conditions and take into account the religious and cultural customs of the crew on board.

3. Standard A4.3:

Ensure that all seafarers are provided with appropriate sized personal protective equipment to prevent occupational accidents, injuries, and illnesses on board.

4. Appendix A2-1 and Appendix A4-1:

If the name of the ship owner on the financial guarantee certificate or other documentary evidence required by standards A2.5.2 and A4.2.1 is inconsistent with the name of the registered ship owner, the amendment now stipulates that the name of the registered ship owner can be added to the relevant documents.

At the time of this classification society's press release, it is unclear whether MLC member countries will issue any directives or revisions to Part I of the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC), which may require modifications to Part II of the DMLC or other shipowner procedures. It is recommended that ship owners closely inspect flag state publications related to their vessels and ensure that relevant procedures fully reflect the aforementioned revisions.

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