Making the transition to Maritime Labour Convention compliance

20 September 2008

Oslo: DNV is helping ship owners and operators to make a smooth transition to compliance with the new standards for the living and working conditions of seafarers, which are expected to enter into force as early as in 2011. Print this page Save as PDF E-mail link

The International Labour Organisation has today released new guidelines for inspections of compliance with the requirements in the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006. DNV is maintaining a strong involvement in the MLC legislative process. A team of DNV specialists is ready to assist clients in all aspects of MLC implementation.

The convention may mean changes to ship manning levels, onboard accommodation and recreational facilities, catering, working hours and health and safety procedures. Certification will be required for ships of 500 gt or over engaged in international trade or 500 gt or over flying the flag of one country and operating from a port, or between ports, in another country.

DNV has already certified one crew manning office, conducted gap analysis for a shipowner and training for customers and offers owner training, documentation review/gap identification and voluntary certification services designed to assist those responsible for the implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention within their organisation.

“Though there is some latitude in the convention for implementation through ‘substantial equivalence’, we believe most flag states will implement the requirements as is in order to achieve a level playing field. Due to this, and the expected rush for certification in the months before entry into force, we are already offering voluntary certification services,” said Georg Smefjell, the project manager of DNV’s MLC team. Mr Smefjell has chaired various committees during the development of the MLC and has over 15 years’ experience of dealing with labour issues.

DNV is currently authorised to carry out various certification and inspection services on behalf of approximately 80 national maritime authorities and will seek to extend its authority to cover the MLC.

“Ship owners will benefit from the services, including one-stop inspection and certification services, we are making available,” said Mr Smefjell. “We are confident that our intimate knowledge of the new requirements, seafarers’ working and living conditions and ship construction and our proven competence in health and safety will enable us to deliver effective, positive solutions to our clients.”

The convention includes additional requirements for the licensing and certification of crewing agencies and DNV’s existing standard for such agencies has already been revised to match that specified in the convention.

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