MARITIME LAROUR CONVENTION, 2006

PREAMBLE
 The General Conference of the International Labour Organization,
Having been convened at Geneva by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, and having met in its Ninety-fourth Session on 7 February 2006, and Desiring to create a single, coherent instrument embodying as far as possible all up-to-date standards of existing international maritime labour Conventions and Recommendations, as well as the fundamental principles to be found in other international labour Conventions, in particular:

the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29); 

- the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87); 
- the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98); 
- the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100); 
- the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105); 
- the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111); 
- the Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138); 
- the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182); and 

Mindful of the core mandate of the Organization, which is to promote decent conditions of work, and 

 Recalling the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, 1998, and 

 Mindful also that seafarers are covered by the provisions of other ILO instruments and have other rights which are established as fundamental rights and freedoms applicable to all persons, and 

 Considering that, given the global nature of the shipping industry, seafarers need special protection, and

 Mindful also of the international standards on ship safety, human security and quality ship management in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended, and the seafarer training and competency requirements in the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended, and

Recalling that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, sets out a general legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained, and 

Recalling that Article 94 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, establishes the duties and obligations of a flag State with regard to, inter alia, labour conditions, crewing and social matters on ships that fly its flag, and 

Recalling paragraph 8 of article 19 of the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation which provides that in no case shall the adoption of any Convention or Recommendation by the Conference or the ratification of any Convention by any Member be deemed to affect any law, award, custom or agreement which ensures more favourable conditions to the workers concerned than those provided for in the Convention or Recommendation, and 

 

Determined that this new instrument should be designed to secure the widest possible acceptability among governments, shipowners and seafarers committed to the principles of decent work, that it should be readily updateable and that it should lend itself to effective implementation and enforcement, and 

 Having decided upon the adoption of certain proposals for the realization of such an instrument, which is the only item on the agenda of the session, and 

 Having determined that these proposals shall take the form of an international Convention; 

adopts this twenty-third day of February of the year two thousand and six the following Convention, which may be cited as the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

GENERAL OBLIGATIONS

Article I

 1. Each Member which ratifies this Convention undertakes to give complete effect to its provisions in the manner set out in Article VI in order to secure the right of all seafarers to decent employment. 

 2. Members shall cooperate with each other for the purpose of ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of this Convention.

DEFINITIONS AND SCOPE OF APPLICATION

Article II

 1. For the purpose of this Convention and unless provided otherwise in particular provisions, the term: 

(a) competent authority means the minister, government department or other authority having power to issue and enforce regulations, orders or other instructions having the force of law in respect of the subject matter of the provision concerned;

(b) declaration of maritime labour compliance means the declaration referred to in Regulation 5.1.3; 

(c) gross tonnage means the gross tonnage calculated in accordance with the tonnage measurement regulations contained in Annex I to the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, or any successor Convention; for ships covered by the tonnage measurement interim scheme adopted by the International Maritime Organization, the gross tonnage is that which is included in the REMARKS column of the International Tonnage Certificate (1969);

(d) maritime labour certificate means the certificate referred to in Regulation 5.1.3; 

(e) requirements of this Convention refers to the requirements in these Articles and in the Regulations and Part A of the Code of this Convention; 

(f) seafarer means any person who is employed or engaged or works in any capacity on board a ship to which this Convention applies;

(g) seafarers’ employment agreement includes both a contract of employment and articles of agreement; 

(h) seafarer recruitment and placement service means any person, company, institution, agency or other organization, in the public or the private sector, which is engaged in recruiting seafarers on behalf of shipowners or placing seafarers with shipowners; 

(i) ship means a ship other than one which navigates exclusively in inland waters or waters within, or closely adjacent to, sheltered waters or areas where port regulations apply;

(j) shipowner means the owner of the ship or another organization or person, such as the manager, agent or bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for the operation of the ship from the owner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over the duties and responsibilities imposed on shipowners in accordance with this Convention, regardless of whether any other organization or persons fulfil certain of the duties or responsibilities on behalf of the shipowner. 

2. Except as expressly provided otherwise, this Convention applies to all seafarers.

 3. In the event of doubt as to whether any categories of persons are to be regarded as seafarers for the purpose of this Convention, the question shall be determined by the competent authority in each Member after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned with this question.

4. Except as expressly provided otherwise, this Convention applies to all ships, whether publicly or privately owned, ordinarily engaged in commercial activities, other than ships engaged in fishing or in similar pursuits and ships of traditional build such as dhows and junks.  This Convention does not apply to warships or naval auxiliaries.

5. In the event of doubt as to whether this Convention applies to a ship or particular category of ships, the question shall be determined by the competent authority in each Member after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned.

6. Where the competent authority determines that it would not be reasonable or practicable at the present time to apply certain details of the Code referred to in Article VI, paragraph 1, to a ship or particular categories of ships flying the flag of the Member, the relevant provisions of the Code shall not apply to the extent that the subject matter is dealt with differently by national laws or regulations or collective bargaining agreements or other measures.  Such a determination may only be made in consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned and may only be made with respect to ships of less than 200 gross tonnage not engaged in international voyages.

7. Any determinations made by a Member under paragraph 3 or 5 or 6 of this Article shall be communicated to the Director-General of the International Labour Office, who shall notify the Members of the Organization.

 8. Unless expressly provided otherwise, a reference to this Convention constitutes at the same time a reference to the Regulations and the Code.

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND PRINCIPLES

Article III

 Each Member shall satisfy itself that the provisions of its law and regulations respect, in the context of this Convention, the fundamental rights to:

(a) freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

(b) the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;

(c) the effective abolition of child labour; and

(d) the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

SEAFARERS’ EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL RIGHTS

Article IV

 1. Every seafarer has the right to a safe and secure workplace that complies with safety standards.

 2. Every seafarer has a right to fair terms of employment.

 3. Every seafarer has a right to decent working and living conditions on board ship.

 4. Every seafarer has a right to health protection, medical care, welfare measures and other forms of social protection.

5. Each Member shall ensure, within the limits of its jurisdiction, that the seafarers’ employment and social rights set out in the preceding paragraphs of this Article are fully implemented in accordance with the requirements of this Convention.  Unless specified otherwise in the Convention, such implementation may be achieved through national laws or regulations, through applicable collective bargaining agreements or through other measures or in practice.

IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Article V

 1. Each Member shall implement and enforce laws or regulations or other measures that it has adopted to fulfil its commitments under this Convention with respect to ships and seafarers under its jurisdiction.

 2. Each Member shall effectively exercise its jurisdiction and control over ships that fly its flag by establishing a system for ensuring compliance with the requirements of this Convention, including regular inspections, reporting, monitoring and legal proceedings under the applicable laws.

 3. Each Member shall ensure that ships that fly its flag carry a maritime labour certificate and a declaration of maritime labour compliance as required by this Convention.

4. A ship to which this Convention applies may, in accordance with international law, be inspected by a Member other than the flag State, when the ship is in one of its ports, to determine whether the ship is in compliance with the requirements of this Convention.

 5. Each Member shall effectively exercise its jurisdiction and control over seafarer recruitment and placement services, if these are established in its territory.

6. Each Member shall prohibit violations of the requirements of this Convention and shall, in accordance with international law, establish sanctions or require the adoption of corrective measures under its laws which are adequate to discourage such violations.

7. Each Member shall implement its responsibilities under this Convention in such a way as to ensure that the ships that fly the flag of any State that has not ratified this Convention do not receive more favourable treatment than the ships that fly the flag of any State that has ratified it.

REGULATIONS AND PARTS A AND B OF THE CODE

Article VI

 1. The Regulations and the provisions of Part A of the Code are mandatory.  The provisions of Part B of the Code are not mandatory.

 2. Each Member undertakes to respect the rights and principles set out in the Regulations and to implement each Regulation in the manner set out in the corresponding provisions of Part A of the Code.  In addition, the Member shall give due consideration to implementing its responsibilities in the manner provided for in Part B of the Code.

 3. A Member which is not in a position to implement the rights and principles in the manner set out in Part A of the Code may, unless expressly provided otherwise in this Convention, implement Part A through provisions in its laws and regulations or other measures which are substantially equivalent to the provisions of Part A.

4. For the sole purpose of paragraph 3 of this Article, any law, regulation, collective agreement or other implementing measure shall be considered to be substantially equivalent, in the context of this Convention, if the Member satisfies itself that:

(a) it is conducive to the full achievement of the general object and purpose of the provision or provisions of Part A of the Code concerned; and

(b) it gives effect to the provision or provisions of Part A of the Code concerned.

CONSULTATION WITH SHIPOWNERS’
AND SEAFARERS’ ORGANIZATIONS

Article VII

 Any derogation, exemption or other flexible application of this Convention for which the Convention requires consultation with shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations may, in cases where representative organizations of shipowners or of seafarers do not exist within a Member, only be decided by that Member through consultation with the Committee referred to in Article XIII.

ENTRY INTO FORCE

Article VIII

 1. The formal ratifications of this Convention shall be communicated to the Director-General of the International Labour Office for registration.

 2. This Convention shall be binding only upon those Members of the International Labour Organization whose ratifications have been registered by the Director-General.

 3. This Convention shall come into force 12 months after the date on which there have been registered ratifications by at least 30 Members with a total share in the world gross tonnage of ships of at least 33 per cent.

 4. Thereafter, this Convention shall come into force for any Member 12 months after the date on which its ratification has been registered.

DENUNCIATION

Article IX 

 1. A Member which has ratified this Convention may denounce it after the expiration of ten years from the date on which the Convention first comes into force, by an act communicated to the Director-General of the International Labour Office for registration.  Such denunciation shall not take effect until one year after the date on which it is registered.

 2. Each Member which does not, within the year following the expiration of the period of ten years mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article, exercise the right of denunciation provided for in this Article, shall be bound for another period of ten years and, thereafter, may denounce this Convention at the expiration of each new period of ten years under the terms provided for in this Article.

EFFECT OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

Article X 

 This Convention revises the following Conventions:

 Minimum Age (Sea) Convention, 1920 (No. 7)
 Unemployment Indemnity (Shipwreck) Convention, 1920 (No. 8)
 Placing of Seamen Convention, 1920 (No. 9)
 Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention,
 1921 (No. 16)
 Seamen’s Articles of Agreement Convention, 1926 (No. 22)
 Repatriation of Seamen Convention, 1926 (No. 23)
 Officers’ Competency Certificates Convention, 1936 (No. 53)
 Holidays with Pay (Sea) Convention, 1936 (No. 54)
 Shipowners’ Liability (Sick and Injured Seamen) Convention,
 1936 (No. 55)
 Sickness Insurance (Sea) Convention, 1936 (No. 56)
 Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention, 1936 (No. 57)
 Minimum Age (Sea) Convention (Revised), 1936 (No. 58)

 Food and Catering (Ships’ Crews) Convention, 1946 (No. 68) 
 Certification of Ships’ Cooks Convention, 1946 (No. 69) 
 Social Security (Seafarers) Convention, 1946 (No. 70) 
 Paid Vacations (Seafarers) Convention, 1946 (No. 72) 
 Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention, 1946 (No. 73) 
 Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946 (No. 74) 
 Accommodation of Crews Convention, 1946 (No. 75) 
 Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention, 1946 (No. 76) 
 Paid Vacations (Seafarers) Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 91) 
 Accommodation of Crews Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 92) 
 Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention (Revised), 
 1949 (No. 93) 

 Wages, Hours of Work and Manning (Sea) Convention (Revised), 
 1958 (No. 109) 
 Accommodation of Crews (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 
 1970 (No. 133) 
 Prevention of Accidents (Seafarers) Convention, 1970 (No. 134) 
 Continuity of Employment (Seafarers) Convention, 1976 (No. 145) 
 Seafarers’ Annual Leave with Pay Convention, 1976 (No. 146) 
 Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 147) 
 Protocol of 1996 to the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) 
 Convention, 1976 (No. 147) 
 Seafarers’ Welfare Convention, 1987 (No. 163) 
 Health Protection and Medical Care (Seafarers) Convention, 1987 
 (No. 164) 
 Social Security (Seafarers) Convention (Revised), 1987 (No. 165) 
 Repatriation of Seafarers Convention (Revised), 1987 (No. 166) 
 Labour Inspection (Seafarers) Convention, 1996 (No. 178) 
 Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers Convention, 1996 (No. 179) 
 Seafarers’ Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships Convention, 1996 
 (No. 180).

DEPOSITARY FUNCTIONS

Article Xl

 1. The Director-General of the International Labour Office shall notify all Members of the International Labour Organization of the registration of all ratifications, acceptances and denunciations under this Convention.

 2. When the conditions provided for in paragraph 3 of Article VIII have been fulfilled, the Director-General shall draw the attention of the Members of the Organization to the date upon which the Convention will come into force.

Article XII

 The Director-General of the International Labour Office shall communicate to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for registration in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations full particulars of all ratifications, acceptances and denunciations registered under this Convention.

SPECIAL TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE

Article XIII

 1. The Governing Body of the International Labour Office shall keep the working of this Convention under continuous review through a committee established by it with special competence in the area of maritime labour standards.

 2. For matters dealt with in accordance with this Convention, the Committee shall consist of two representatives nominated by the Government of each Member which has ratified this Convention, and the representatives of Shipowners and Seafarers appointed by the Governing Body after consultation with the Joint Maritime Commission.

3. The Government representatives of Members which have not yet ratified this Convention may participate in the Committee but shall have no right to vote on any matter dealt with in accordance with this Convention.  The Governing Body may invite other organizations or entities to be represented on the Committee by observers.

 4. The votes of each Shipowner and Seafarer representative in the Committee shall be weighted so as to ensure that the Shipowners’ group and the Seafarers’ group each have half the voting power of the total number of governments which are represented at the meeting concerned and entitled to vote.

AMENDMENT OF THIS CONVENTION

Article XIV

 1. Amendments to any of the provisions of this Convention may be adopted by the General Conference of the International Labour Organization in the framework of article 19 of the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation and the rules and procedures of the Organization for the adoption of Conventions.  Amendments to the Code may also be adopted following the procedures in Article XV.

 2. In the case of Members whose ratifications of this Convention were registered before the adoption of the amendment, the text of the amendment shall be communicated to them for ratification.

 3. In the case of other Members of the Organization, the text of the Convention as amended shall be communicated to them for ratification in accordance with article 19 of the Constitution.

4. An amendment shall be deemed to have been accepted on the date when there have been registered ratifications, of the amendment or of the Convention as amended, as the case may be, by at least 30 Members with a total share in the world gross tonnage of ships of at least 33 per cent.

 5. An amendment adopted in the framework of article 19 of the Constitution shall be binding only upon those Members of the Organization whose ratifications have been registered by the Director-General of the International Labour Office.

 6. For any Member referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, an amendment shall come into force 12 months after the date of acceptance referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article or 12 months after the date on which its ratification of the amendment has been registered, whichever date is later.

7. Subject to paragraph 9 of this Article, for Members referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, the Convention as amended shall come into force 12 months after the date of acceptance referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article or 12 months after the date on which their ratifications of the Convention have been registered, whichever date is later.

 8. For those Members whose ratification of this Convention was registered before the adoption of an amendment but which have not ratified the amendment, this Convention shall remain in force without the amendment concerned.

9. Any Member whose ratification of this Convention is registered after the adoption of the amendment but before the date referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article may, in a declaration accompanying the instrument of ratification, specify that its ratification relates to the Convention without the amendment concerned.  In the case of a ratification with such a declaration, the Convention shall come into force for the Member concerned 12 months after the date on which the ratification was registered.  Where an instrument of ratification is not accompanied by such a declaration, or where the ratification is registered on or after the date referred to in paragraph 4, the Convention shall come into force for the Member concerned 12 months after the date on which the ratification was registered and, upon its entry into force in accordance with paragraph 7 of this Article, the amendment shall be binding on the Member 
concerned unless the amendment provides otherwise.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE

Article XV

 1. The Code may be amended either by the procedure set out in Article XIV or, unless expressly provided otherwise, in accordance with the procedure set out in the present Article.

 2. An amendment to the Code may be proposed to the Director-General of the International Labour Office by the government of any Member of the Organization or by the group of Shipowner representatives or the group of Seafarer representatives who have been appointed to the Committee referred to in Article XIII.  An amendment proposed by a government must have been proposed by, or be supported by, at least five governments of Members that have ratified the Convention or by the group of Shipowner or Seafarer representatives referred to in this paragraph.

3. Having verified that the proposal for amendment meets the requirements of paragraph 2 of this Article, the Director-General shall promptly communicate the proposal, accompanied by any comments or suggestions deemed appropriate, to all Members of the Organization, with an invitation to them to transmit their observations or suggestions concerning the proposal within a period of six months or such other period (which shall not be less than three months nor more than nine months) prescribed by the Governing Body.

4. At the end of the period referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, the proposal, accompanied by a summary, of any observations or suggestions made under that paragraph, shall be transmitted to the Committee for consideration at a meeting.  An amendment shall be considered adopted by the Committee if:

(a) at least half the governments of Members that have ratified this Convention are represented in the meeting at which the proposal is considered; and

(b) a majority of at least two-thirds of the Committee members vote in favour of the amendment; and 

(c) this majority comprises the votes in favour of at least half the government voting power, half the Shipowner voting power and half the Seafarer voting power of the Committee members registered at the meeting when the proposal is put to the vote.

5. Amendments adopted in accordance with paragraph 4 of this Article shall be submitted to the next session of the Conference for approval.  Such approval shall require a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast by the delegates present.  If such majority is not obtained, the proposed amendment shall be referred back to the Committee for reconsideration should the Committee so wish.

6. Amendments approved by the Conference shall be notified by the Director-General to each of the Members whose ratifications of this Convention were registered before the date of such approval by the Conference.  These Members are referred to below as “the ratifying Members”.  The notification shall contain a reference to the present Article and shall prescribe the period for the communication of any formal disagreement.  This period shall be two years from the date of the notification unless, at the time of approval, the Conference has set a different period, which shall be a period of at least one year.  A copy of the notification shall be communicated to the other Members of the Organization for their information.

7. An amendment approved by the Conference shall be deemed to have been accepted unless, by the end of the prescribed period, formal expressions of disagreement have been received by the Director-General from more than 40 per cent of the Members which have ratified the Convention and which represent not less than 40 per cent of the gross tonnage of the ships of the Members which have ratified the Convention.

8. An amendment deemed to have been accepted shall come into force six months after the end of the prescribed period for all the ratifying Members except those which had formally expressed their disagreement in accordance with paragraph 7 of this Article and have not withdrawn such disagreement in accordance with paragraph 11. However: 

(a) before the end of the prescribed period, any ratifying Member may give notice to the Director-General that it shall be bound by the amendment only after a subsequent express notification of its acceptance; and 

(b) before the date of entry into force of the amendment, any ratifying Member may give notice to the Director-General that it will not give effect to that amendment for a specified period. 

9. An amendment which is the subject of a notice referred to in paragraph 8(a) of this Article shall enter into force for the Member giving such notice six months after the Member has notified the Director-General of its acceptance of the amendment or on the date on which the amendment first comes into force, whichever date is later.

 10. The period referred to in paragraph 8(b) of this Article shall not go beyond one year from the date of entry into force of the amendment or beyond any longer period determined by the Conference at the time of approval of the amendment.

11. A Member that has formally expressed disagreement with an amendment may withdraw its disagreement at any time. If notice of such withdrawal is received by the Director-General after the amendment has entered into force, the amendment shall enter into force for the Member six months after the date on which the notice was registered. 

 12. After entry into force of an amendment, the Convention may only be ratified in its amended form.

13. To the extent that a maritime labour certificate relates to matters covered by an amendment to the Convention which has entered into force: 

(a) a Member that has accepted that amendment shall not be obliged to extend the benefit of the Convention in respect of the maritime labour certificates issued to ships flying the flag of another Member which: 

 (i) pursuant to paragraph 7 of this Article, has formally expressed disagreement to the amendment and has not withdrawn such disagreement; or 

 (ii) pursuant to paragraph 8(a) of this Article, has given notice that its acceptance is subject to its subsequent express notification and has not accepted the amendment; and 

(b) a Member that has accepted the amendment shall extend the benefit of the Convention in respect of the maritime labour certificates issued to ships flying the flag of another Member that has given notice, pursuant to paragraph 8(b) of this Article, that it will not give effect to that amendment for the period specified in accordance with paragraph 10 of this Article.

AUTHORITATIVE LANGUAGES

Article XVI

 The English and French versions of the text of this Convention are equally authoritative.

THE REGULATIONS AND THE CODE
TITLE 1. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
FOR SEAFARERS TO WORK ON A SHIP

Regulation 1.1 - Minimum age

Purpose: To ensure that no under-age persons work on a ship 

 1. No person below the minimum age shall be employed or engaged or work on a ship. 

 2. The minimum age at the time of the initial entry into force of this Convention is 16 years. 

 3. A higher minimum age shall be required in the circumstances set out in the Code.

Standard A1.1 - Minimum age

 1. The employment, engagement or work on board a ship of any person under the age of 16 shall be prohibited.

 2. Night work of seafarers under the age of 18 shall be prohibited.  For the purposes of this Standard, “night” shall be defined in accordance with national law and practice.  It shall cover a period of at least nine hours starting no later than midnight and ending no earlier than 5 a.m.

3. An exception to strict compliance with the night work restriction may be made by the competent authority when:

(a) the effective training of the seafarers concerned, in accordance with established programmes and schedules, would be impaired; or

(b) the specific nature of the duty or a recognized training programme requires that the seafarers covered by the exception perform duties at night and the authority determines, after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, that the work will not be detrimental to their health or well-being.

4. The employment, engagement or work of seafarers under the age of 18 shall be prohibited where the work is likely to jeopardize their health or safety.  The types of such work shall be determined by national laws or regulations or by the competent authority, after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, in accordance with relevant international standards.

Guideline B1.1 - Minimum age

 1. When regulating working and living conditions, Members should give special attention to the needs of young persons under the age of 18.

Regulation 1.2 - Medical certificate

Purpose:  To ensure that all seafarers are medically fit to perform their duties at sea 

 1. Seafarers shall not work on a ship unless they are certified as medically fit to perform their duties.

 2. Exceptions can only be permitted as prescribed in the Code.

Standard A1.2 - Medical certificate

 1. The competent authority shall require that, prior to beginning work on a ship, seafarers hold a valid medical certificate attesting that they are medically fit to perform the duties they are to carry out at sea.

 2. In order to ensure that medical certificates genuinely reflect seafarers’ state of health, in light of the duties they are to perform, the competent authority shall, after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, and giving due consideration to applicable international guidelines referred to in Part B of this Code, prescribe the nature of the medical examination and certificate.

3. This Standard is without prejudice to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (“STCW”).  A medical certificate issued in accordance with the requirements of STCW shall be accepted by the competent authority, for the purpose of Regulation 1.2.  A medical certificate meeting the substance of those requirements, in the case of seafarers not covered by STCW, shall similarly be accepted.

4. The medical certificate shall be issued by a duly qualified medical practitioner or, in the case of a certificate solely concerning eyesight, by a person recognized by the competent authority as qualified to issue such a certificate.  Practitioners must enjoy full professional independence in exercising their medical judgement in undertaking medical examination procedures.

5. Seafarers that have been refused a certificate or have had a limitation imposed on their ability to work, in particular with respect to time, field of work or trading area, shall be given the opportunity to have a further examination by another independent medical practitioner or by an independent medical referee.

 6. Each medical certificate shall state in particular that:

(a) the hearing and sight of the seafarer concerned, and the colour vision in the case of a seafarer to be employed in capacities where fitness for the work to be performed is liable to be affected by defective colour vision, are all satisfactory; and

(b) the seafarer concerned is not suffering from any medical condition likely to be aggravated by service at sea or to render the seafarer unfit for such service or to endanger the health of other persons on board.

7. Unless a shorter period is required by reason of the specific duties to be performed by the seafarer concerned or is required under STCW:

(a) a medical certificate shall be valid for a maximum period of two years unless the seafarer is under the age of 18, in which case the maximum period of validity shall be one year;

(b) a certification of colour vision shall be valid for a maximum period of six years.

 8. In urgent cases the competent authority may permit a seafarer to work without a valid medical certificate until the next port of call where the seafarer can obtain a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner, provided that:

(a) the period of such permission does not exceed three months; and

(b) the seafarer concerned is in possession of an expired medical certificate of recent date.

9. If the period of validity of a certificate expires in the course of a voyage, the certificate shall continue in force until the next port of call where the seafarer can obtain a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner, provided that the period shall not exceed three months.

10. The medical certificates for seafarers working on ships ordinarily engaged on international voyages must as a minimum be provided in English.

Guideline B1.2 - Medical certificate

Guideline B1.2.1 - International guidelines

 1. The competent authority, medical practitioners, examiners, shipowners,  seafarers’ representatives and all other persons concerned with the conduct of medical fitness examinations of seafarer candidates and serving seafarers should follow the ILO/WHO Guidelines for Conducting Pre-sea and Periodic Medical Fitness Examinations for Seafarers, including any subsequent versions, and any other applicable international guidelines published by the International Labour Organization, the International Maritime Organization or the World Health Organization.

Regulation 1.3 - Training and qualifications
Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers are trained or qualified to carry out their duties on board ship

 1. Seafarers shall not work on a ship unless they are trained or certified as competent or otherwise qualified to perform their duties.

 2. Seafarers shall not be permitted to work on a ship unless they have successfully completed training for personal safety on board ship.

 3. Training and certification in accordance with the mandatory instruments adopted by the International Maritime Organization shall be considered as meeting the requirements of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Regulation.

4. Any Member which, at the time of its ratification of this Convention, was bound by the Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946 (No. 74), shall continue to carry out the obligations under that Convention unless and until mandatory provisions covering its subject matter have been adopted by the International Maritime Organization and entered into force, or until five years have elapsed since the entry into force of this Convention in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article VIII, whichever date is earlier.

Regulation 1.4 - Recruitment and placement

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers have access to an efficient and well-regulated seafarer recruitment and placement system

 1. All seafarers shall have access to an efficient, adequate and accountable system for finding employment on board ship without charge to the seafarer.

 2. Seafarer recruitment and placement services operating in a Member’s territory shall conform to the standards set out in the Code.

3. Each Member shall require, in respect of seafarers who work on ships that fly its flag, that shipowners who use seafarer recruitment and placement services that are based in countries or territories in which this Convention does not apply, ensure that those services conform to the requirements set out in the Code.

Standard A1.4 - Recruitment and placement

 1. Each Member that operates a public seafarer recruitment and placement service shall ensure that the service is operated in an orderly manner that protects and promotes seafarers’ employment rights as provided in this Convention.

2. Where a Member has private seafarer recruitment and placement services operating in its territory whose primary purpose is the recruitment and placement of seafarers or which recruit and place a significant number of seafarers, they shall be operated only in conformity with a standardized system of licensing or certification or other form of regulation.  This system shall be established, modified or changed only after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned.  In the event of doubt as to whether this Convention applies to a private recruitment and placement service, the question shall be determined by the competent authority in each Member after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned.  Undue proliferation of private seafarer recruitment and placement services shall not be encouraged.

3. The provisions of paragraph 2 of this Standard shall also apply - to the extent that they are determined by the competent authority, in consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, to be appropriate - in the context of recruitment and placement services operated by a seafarers’ organization in the territory of the Member for the supply of seafarers who are nationals of that Member to ships which fly its flag.  The services covered by this paragraph are those fulfilling the following conditions:

(a) the recruitment and placement service is operated pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement between that organization and a shipowner;

(b) both the seafarers’ organization and the shipowner are based in the territory of the Member;

(c) The Member has national laws or regulations or a procedure to authorize or register the collective bargaining agreement permitting the operation of the recruitment and placement service; and

(d) the recruitment and placement service is operated in an orderly manner and measures are in place to protect and promote seafarers’ employment rights comparable to those provided in paragraph 5 of this Standard.

4. Nothing in this Standard or Regulation 1.4 shall be deemed to:

(a) prevent a Member from maintaining a free public seafarer recruitment and placement service for seafarers in the framework of a policy to meet the needs of seafarers and shipowners, whether the service forms part of or is coordinated with a public employment service for all workers and employers; or

(b) impose on a Member the obligation to establish a system for the operation of private seafarer recruitment or placement services in its territory.

5. A Member adopting a system referred to in paragraph 2 of this Standard shall, in its laws and regulations or other measures, at a minimum:

(a) prohibit seafarer recruitment and placement services from using means, mechanisms or lists intended to prevent or deter seafarers from gaining employment for which they are qualified;

(b) require that no fees or other charges for seafarer recruitment or placement or for providing employment to seafarers are borne directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by the seafarer, other than the cost of the seafarer obtaining a national statutory medical certificate, the national seafarer’s book and a passport or other similar personal travel documents, not including, however, the cost of visas, which shall be borne by the shipowner; and

(c) ensure that seafarer recruitment and placement services operating in its territory:

 (i) maintain an up-to-date register of all seafarers recruited or placed through them, to be available for inspection by the competent authority;

 (ii) make sure that seafarers are informed of their rights and duties under their employment agreements prior to or in the process of engagement and that proper arrangements are made for seafarers to examine their employment agreements before and after they are signed and for them to receive a copy of the agreements;

(iii) verify that seafarers recruited or placed by them are qualified and hold the documents necessary for the job concerned, and that the seafarers’ employment agreements are in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and any collective bargaining agreement that forms part of the employment agreement;

 (iv) make sure, as far as practicable, that the shipowner has the means to protect seafarers from being stranded in a foreign port;

 (v) examine and respond to any complaint concerning their activities and advise the competent authority of any unresolved complaint;

 (vi) establish a system of protection, by way of insurance or an equivalent appropriate measure, to compensate seafarers for monetary loss that they may incur as a result of the failure of a recruitment and placement service or the relevant shipowner under the seafarers’ employment agreement to meet its obligations to them.

6. The competent authority shall closely supervise and control all seafarer recruitment and placement services operating in the territory of the Member concerned.  Any licences or certificates or similar authorizations for the operation of private services in the territory are granted or renewed only after verification that the seafarer recruitment and placement service concerned meets the requirements of national laws and regulations.

7. The competent authority shall ensure that adequate machinery and procedures exist for the investigation, if necessary, of complaints concerning the activities of seafarer recruitment and placement services, involving, as appropriate, representatives of shipowners and seafarers.

8. Each Member which has ratified this Convention shall, in so far as practicable, advise its nationals on the possible problems of signing on a ship that flies the flag of a State which has not ratified the Convention, until it is satisfied that standards equivalent to those fixed by this Convention are being applied.  Measures taken to this effect by the Member that has ratified this Convention shall not be in contradiction with the principle of free movement of workers stipulated by the treaties to which the two States concerned may be parties.

9. Each Member which has ratified this Convention shall require that shipowners of ships that fly its flag, who use seafarer recruitment and placement services based in countries or territories in which this Convention does not apply, ensure, as far as practicable, that those services meet the requirements of this Standard.

10. Nothing in this Standard shall be understood as diminishing the obligations and responsibilities of shipowners or of a Member with respect to ships that fly its flag.

Guideline B1.4 — Recruitment and placement

Guideline B1.4.1 — Organizational and operational guidelines

 1. When fulfilling its obligations under Standard A1.4, paragraph 1, the competent authority should consider:

(a) taking the necessary measures to promote effective cooperation among seafarer recruitment and placement services, whether public or private;

(b) the needs of the maritime industry at both the national and international levels, when developing training programmes for seafarers that form the part of the ship’s crew that is responsible for the ship’s safe navigation and pollution prevention operations, with the participation of shipowners, seafarers and the relevant training institutions;

(c) making suitable arrangements for the cooperation of representative shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations in the organization and operation of the public seafarer recruitment and placement services, where they exist;

(d) determining, with due regard to the right to privacy and the need to protect confidentiality, the conditions under which seafarers’ personal data may be processed by seafarer recruitment and placement services, including the collection, storage, combination and communication of such data to third parties;

(e) maintaining an arrangement for the collection and analysis of all relevant information on the maritime labour market, including the current and prospective supply of seafarers that work as crew classified by age, sex, rank and qualifications, and the industry’s requirements, the collection of data on age or sex being admissible only for statistical purposes or if used in the framework of a programme to prevent discrimination based on age or sex;

(f) ensuring that the staff responsible for the supervision of public and private seafarer recruitment and placement services for ship’s crew with responsibility for the ship’s safe navigation and pollution prevention operations have had adequate training, including approved sea-service experience, and have relevant knowledge of the maritime industry, including the relevant maritime international instruments on training, certification and labour standards;

(g) prescribing operational standards and adopting codes of conduct and ethical practices for seafarer recruitment and placement services; and

(h) exercising supervision of the licensing or certification system on the basis of a system of quality standards.

2. In establishing the system referred to in Standard A1.4, paragraph 2, each Member should consider requiring seafarer recruitment and placement services, established in its territory, to develop and maintain verifiable operational practices.  These operational practices for private seafarer recruitment and placement services and, to the extent that they are applicable, for public seafarer recruitment and placement services should address the following matters:

(a) medical examinations, seafarers’ identity documents and such other items as may be required for the seafarer to gain employment;

(b) maintaining, with due regard to the right to privacy and the need to protect confidentiality, full and complete records of the seafarers covered by their recruitment and placement system, which should include but not be limited to:

 (i) the seafarers’ qualifications;

 (ii) record of employment;

 (iii) personal data relevant to employment; and

 (iv) medical data relevant to employment;

(c) maintaining up-to-date lists of the ships for which the seafarer recruitment and placement services provide seafarers and ensuring that there is a means by which the services can be contacted in an emergency at all hours;

(d) procedures to ensure that seafarers are not subject to exploitation by the seafarer recruitment and placement services or their personnel with regard to the offer of engagement on particular ships or by particular companies;

(e) procedures to prevent the opportunities for exploitation of seafarers arising from the issue of joining advances or any other financial transaction between the shipowner and the seafarers which are handled by the seafarer recruitment and placement services;

(f) clearly publicizing costs, if any, which the seafarer will be expected to bear in the recruitment process;

(g) ensuring that seafarers are advised of any particular conditions applicable to the job for which they are to be engaged and of the particular shipowner’s policies relating to their employment;

(h) procedures which are in accordance with the principles of natural justice for dealing with cases of incompetence or indiscipline consistent with national laws and practice and, where applicable, with collective agreements;

(i) procedures to ensure, as far as practicable, that all mandatory certificates and documents submitted for employment are up to date and have not been fraudulently obtained and that employment references are verified;

(j) procedures to ensure that requests for information or advice by families of seafarers while the seafarers are at sea are dealt with promptly and sympathetically and at no cost; and

(k) verifying that labour conditions on ships where seafarers are placed are in conformity with applicable collective bargaining agreements concluded between a shipowner and a representative seafarers’ organization and, as a matter of policy, supplying seafarers only to shipowners that offer terms and conditions of employment to seafarers which comply with applicable laws or regulations or collective agreements.

3. Consideration should be given to encouraging international cooperation between Members and relevant organizations, such as:

(a) the systematic exchange of information on the maritime industry and labour market on a bilateral, regional and multilateral basis;

(b) the exchange of information on maritime labour legislation;

(c) the harmonization of policies, working methods and legislation governing recruitment and placement of seafarers;

(d) the improvement of procedures and conditions for the international recruitment and placement of seafarers; and

(e) workforce planning, taking account of the supply of and demand for seafarers and the requirements of the maritime industry.

TITLE 2. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Regulation 2.1 – Seafarer’s employment agreements

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers have a fair employment agreement

 1. The terms and conditions for employment of a seafarer shall be set out or referred to in a clear written legally enforceable agreement and shall be consistent with the standards set out in the Code.

 2. Seafarers’ employment agreements shall be agreed to by the seafarer under conditions which ensure that the seafarer has an opportunity to review and seek advice on the terms and conditions in the agreement and freely accepts them before signing.

 3. To the extent compatible with the Member’s national law and practice, seafarers’ employment agreements shall be understood to incorporate any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Standard A2.1 — Seafarers’ employment agreements

 1. Each Member shall adopt laws or regulations requiring that ships that fly its flag comply with the following requirements:

(a) seafarers working on ships that fly its flag shall have a seafarers’ employment agreement signed by both the seafarer and the shipowner or a representative of the shipowner (or, where they are not employees, evidence of contractual or similar arrangements) providing them with decent working and living conditions on board the ship as required by this Convention;

（b) seafarers signing a seafarers’ employment agreement shall be given an opportunity to examine and seek advice on the agreement before signing, as well as such other facilities as are necessary to ensure that they have freely entered into an agreement with a sufficient understanding of their rights and responsibilities; 

(c) the shipowner and seafarer concerned shall each have a signed original of the seafarers’ employment agreement;

(d) measures shall be taken to ensure that clear information as to the conditions of their employment can be easily obtained on board by seafarers, including the ship’s master, and that such information, including a copy of the seafarers’ employment agreement, is also accessible for review by officers of a competent authority, including those in ports to be visited; and 

(e) seafarers shall be given a document containing a record of their employment on board the ship.

2. Where a collective bargaining agreement forms all or part of a seafarers’ employment agreement, a copy of that agreement shall be available on board. Where the language of the seafarers’ employment agreement and any applicable collective bargaining agreement is not in English, the following shall also be available in English (except for ships engaged only in domestic voyages):

(a) a copy of a standard form of the agreement; and

(b) the portions of the collective bargaining agreement that are subject to a port State inspection under Regulation 5.2.

3. The document referred to in paragraph 1(e) of this Standard shall not contain any statement as to the quality of the seafarers’ work or as to their wages. The form of the document, the particulars to be recorded and the manner in which such particulars are to be entered, shall be determined by national law.

4. Each Member shall adopt laws and regulations specifying the matters that are to be included in all seafarers’ employment agreements governed by its national law.  Seafarers’ employment agreements shall in all cases contain the following particulars: 

(a) the seafarer’s full name, date of birth or age, and birthplace;

(b) the shipowner’s name and address;

(c) the place where and date when the seafarers’ employment agreement is entered into;

(d) the capacity in which the seafarer is to be employed;

(e) the amount of the seafarer’s wages or, where applicable, the formula used for calculating them;

(f) the amount of paid annual leave or, where applicable, the formula used for calculating it;

(g) the termination of the agreement and the conditions thereof, including:

 (i) if the agreement has been made for an indefinite period, the conditions entitling either party to terminate it, as well as the required notice period, which shall not be less for the shipowner than for the seafarer; 

 (ii) if the agreement has been made for a definite period, the date fixed for its expiry; and

 (iii) if the agreement has been made for a voyage, the port of destination and the time which has to expire after arrival before the seafarer should be discharged;

(h) the health and social security protection benefits to be provided to the seafarer by the shipowner;

(i) the seafarer’s entitlement to repatriation;

(j) reference to the collective bargaining agreement, if applicable; and

(k) any other particulars which national law may require.

5. Each Member shall adopt laws or regulations establishing minimum notice periods to be given by the seafarers and shipowners for the early termination of a seafarers’ employment agreement. The duration of these minimum periods shall be determined after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, but shall not be shorter than seven days.

6. A notice period shorter than the minimum may be given in circumstances which are recognized under national law or regulations or applicable collective bargaining agreements as justifying termination of the employment agreement at shorter notice or without notice. In determining those circumstances, each Member shall ensure that the need of the seafarer to terminate, without penalty, the employment agreement on shorter notice or without notice for compassionate or other urgent reasons is taken into account.

Guideline B2.1 – Seafarers’ employment agreements

Guideline B2.1.1 - Record of employment

 1. In determining the particulars to be recorded in the record of employment referred to in Standard A2.1, paragraph 1(e), each Member should ensure that this document contains sufficient information, with a translation in English, to facilitate the acquisition of further work or to satisfy the sea-service requirements for upgrading or promotion.  A seafarers’ discharge book may satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1(e) of that Standard.

Regulation 2.2 - Wages

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers are paid for their services

 1. All seafarers shall be paid for their work regularly and in full in accordance with their employment agreements.

Standard A2.2 - Wages

 1. Each Member shall require that payments due to seafarers working on ships that fly its flag are made at no greater than monthly intervals and in accordance with any applicable collective agreement.

 2. Seafarers shall be given a monthly account of the payments due and the amounts paid, including wages, additional payments and the rate of exchange used where payment has been made in a currency or at a rate different from the one agreed to.

3. Each Member shall require that shipowners take measures, such as those set out in paragraph 4 of this Standard, to provide seafarers with a means to transmit all or part of their earnings to their families or dependants or legal beneficiaries.

 

4. Measures to ensure that seafarers are able to transmit their earnings to their families include:

(a) a system for enabling seafarers, at the time of their entering employment or during it, to allot, if they so desire, a proportion of their wages for remittance at regular intervals to their families by bank transfers or similar means; and

(b) a requirement that allotments should be remitted in due time and directly to the person or persons nominated by the seafarers.

5. Any charge for the service under paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Standard shall be reasonable in amount, and the rate of currency exchange, unless otherwise provided, shall, in accordance with national laws or regulations, be at the prevailing market rate or the official published rate and not unfavourable to the seafarer.

 6. Each Member that adopts national laws or regulations governing seafarers’ wages shall give due consideration to the guidance provided in Part B of the Code.

Guideline B2.2 - Wages

Guideline B2.2.1 - Specific definitions

 1. For the purpose of this Guideline, the term:

(a) able seafarer means any seafarer who is deemed competent to perform any duty which may be required of a rating serving in the deck department, other than the duties of a supervisory or specialist rating, or who is defined as such by national laws, regulations or practice, or by collective agreement;

(b) basic pay or wages means the pay, however composed, for normal hours of work; it does not include payments for overtime worked, bonuses, allowances, paid leave or any other additional remuneration;

(c) consolidated wage means a wage or salary which includes the basic pay and other pay-related benefits; a consolidated wage may include compensation for all overtime hours which are worked and all other pay-related benefits, or it may include only certain benefits in a partial consolidation;

(d) hours of work means time during which seafarers are required to do work on account of the ship;

(e) overtime means time worked in excess of the normal hours of work.

Guideline B2.2.2 - Calculation and payment

 1. For seafarers whose remuneration includes separate compensation for overtime worked:

(a) for the purpose of calculating wages, the normal hours of work at sea and in port should not exceed eight hours per day;

(b) for the purpose of calculating overtime, the number of normal hours per week covered by the basic pay or wages should be prescribed by national laws or regulations, if not determined by collective agreements, but should not exceed 48 hours per week; collective agreements may provide for a different but not less favourable treatment;

(c) the rate or rates of compensation for overtime, which should be not less than one and one-quarter times the basic pay or wages per hour, should be prescribed by national laws or regulations or by collective agreements, if applicable; and

(d) records of all overtime worked should be maintained by the master, or a person assigned by the master, and endorsed by the seafarer at no greater than monthly intervals.

2. For seafarers whose wages are fully or partially consolidated:

(a) the seafarers’ employment agreement should specify clearly, where appropriate, the number of hours of work expected of the seafarer in return for this remuneration, and any additional allowances which might be due in addition to the consolidated wage, and in which circumstances;

(b) where hourly overtime is payable for hours worked in excess of those covered by the consolidated wage, the hourly rate should be not less than one and one-quarter times the basic rate corresponding to the normal hours of work as defined in paragraph 1 of this Guideline; the same principle should be applied to the overtime hours included in the consolidated wage;

(c) remuneration for that portion of the fully or partially consolidated wage representing the normal hours of work as defined in paragraph 1(a) of this Guideline should be no less than the applicable minimum wage; and

(d) for seafarers whose wages are partially consolidated, records of all overtime worked should be maintained and endorsed as provided for in paragraph 1(d) of this Guideline.

3. National laws or regulations or collective agreements may provide for compensation for overtime or for work performed on the weekly day of rest and on public holidays by at least equivalent time off duty and off the ship or additional leave in lieu of remuneration or any other compensation so provided.

4. National laws and regulations adopted after consulting the representative shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations or, as appropriate, collective agreements should take into account the following principles:

(a) equal remuneration for work of equal value should apply to all seafarers employed on the same ship without discrimination based upon race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin;

(b) the seafarers’ employment agreement specifying the applicable wages or wage rates should be carried on board the ship; information on the amount of wages or wage rates should be made available to each seafarer, either by providing at least one signed copy of the relevant information to the seafarer in a language which the seafarer understands, or by posting a copy of the agreement in a place accessible to seafarers or by some other appropriate means;

(c) wages should be paid in legal tender; where appropriate, they may be paid by bank transfer, bank cheque, postal cheque or money order;

(d) on termination of engagement all remuneration due should be paid without undue delay;

(e) adequate penalties or other appropriate remedies should be imposed by the competent authority where shipowners unduly delay, or fail to make, payment of all remuneration due;

(f) wages should be paid directly to seafarers’ designated bank accounts unless they request otherwise in writing; 

(g) subject to subparagraph (h) of this paragraph, the shipowner should impose no limit on seafarers’ freedom to dispose of their remuneration;

(h) deduction from remuneration should be permitted only if:

 (i) there is an express provision in national laws or regulations or in an applicable collective agreement and the seafarer has been informed, in the manner deemed most appropriate by the competent authority, of the conditions for such deductions; and

 (ii) the deductions do not in total exceed the limit that may have been established by national laws or regulations or collective agreements or court decisions for making such deductions;

(i) no deductions should be made from a seafarer’s remuneration in respect of obtaining or retaining employment;

(j) monetary fines against seafarers other than those authorized by national laws or regulations, collective agreements or other measures should be prohibited;

(k) the competent authority should have the power to inspect stores and services provided on board ship to ensure that fair and reasonable prices are applied for the benefit of the seafarers concerned; and

(l) to the extent that seafarers’ claims for wages and other sums due in respect of their employment are not secured in accordance with the provisions of the International Convention on Maritime Liens and Mortgages, 1993, such claims should be protected in accordance with the Protection of Workers’ Claims (Employer’s Insolvency) Convention, 1992 (No. 173).

5. Each Member should, after consulting with representative shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations, have procedures to investigate complaints relating to any matter contained in this Guideline.

Guideline B2.2.3 - Minimum wages

 1. Without prejudice to the principle of free collective bargaining, each Member should, after consulting representative shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations, establish procedures for determining minimum wages for seafarers.  Representative shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations should participate in the operation of such procedures.

2. When establishing such procedures and in fixing minimum wages, due regard should be given to international labour standards concerning minimum wage fixing, as well as the following principles:

(a) the level of minimum wages should take into account the nature of maritime employment, crewing levels of ships, and seafarers’ normal hours of work; and

(b) the level of minimum wages should be adjusted to take into account changes in the cost of living and in the needs of seafarers.

 3. The competent authority should ensure:

(a) by means of a system of supervision and sanctions, that wages are paid at not less than the rate or rates fixed; and

(b) that any seafarers who have been paid at a rate lower than the minimum wage are enabled to recover, by an inexpensive and expeditious judicial or other procedure, the amount by which they have been underpaid.

Guideline B2.2.4 - Minimum monthly basic pay 
or wage figure for able seafarers

 1. The basic pay or wages for a calendar month of service for an able seafarer should be no less than the amount periodically set by the Joint Maritime Commission or another body authorized by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office.  Upon a decision of the Governing Body, the Director-General shall notify any revised amount to the Members of the Organization.

 2. Nothing in this Guideline should be deemed to prejudice arrangements agreed between shipowners or their organizations and seafarers’ organizations with regard to the regulation of standard minimum terms and conditions of employment, provided such terms and conditions are recognized by the competent authority.

Regulation 2.3 - Hours of work and hours of rest

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers have regulated hours of work or hours of rest

 1. Each Member shall ensure that the hours of work or hours of rest for seafarers are regulated.

 2. Each Member shall establish maximum hours of work or minimum hours of rest over given periods that are consistent with the provisions in the Code.

Standard A2.3 - Hours of work and hours of rest

 1. For the purpose of this Standard, the term:

(a) hours of work means time during which seafarers are required to do work on account of the ship;

(b) hours of rest means time outside hours of work; this term does not include short breaks.

 2. Each Member shall within the limits set out in paragraphs 5 to 8 of this Standard fix either a maximum number of hours of work which shall not be exceeded in a given period of time, or a minimum number of hours of rest which shall be provided in a given period of time.

3. Each Member acknowledges that the normal working hours’ standard for seafarers, like that for other workers, shall be based on an eight-hour day with one day of rest per week and rest on public holidays.  However, this shall not prevent the Member from having procedures to authorize or register a collective agreement which determines seafarers’ normal working hours on a basis no less favourable than this standard.

4. In determining the national standards, each Member shall take account of the danger posed by the fatigue of seafarers, especially those whose duties involve navigational safety and the safe and secure operation of the ship.

 5. The limits on hours of work or rest shall be as follows:

(a) maximum hours of work shall not exceed:

 (i) 14 hours in any 24-hour period; and

 (ii) 72 hours in any seven-day period;

 or

(b) minimum hours of rest shall not be less than:

 (i) ten hours in any 24-hour period; and 

 (ii) 77 hours in any seven-day period.

6. Hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which shall be at least six hours in length, and the interval between consecutive periods of rest shall not exceed 14 hours.

 7. Musters, fire-fighting and lifeboat drills, and drills prescribed by national laws and regulations and by international instruments, shall be conducted in a manner that minimizes the disturbance of rest periods and does not induce fatigue.

 8. When a seafarer is on call, such as when a machinery space is unattended, the seafarer shall have an adequate compensatory rest period if the normal period of rest is disturbed by call-outs to work.

9. If no collective agreement or arbitration award exists or if the competent authority determines that the provisions in the agreement or award in respect of paragraph 7 or 8 of this Standard are inadequate, the competent authority shall determine such provisions to ensure the seafarers concerned have sufficient rest.

 10. Each Member shall require the posting, in an easily accessible place, of a table with the shipboard working arrangements, which shall contain for every position at least:

(a) the schedule of service at sea and service in port; and

(b) the maximum hours of work or the minimum hours of rest required by national laws or regulations or applicable collective agreements.

11. The table referred to in paragraph 10 of this Standard shall be established in a standardized format in the working language or languages of the ship and in English.

 12. Each Member shall require that records of seafarers’ daily hours of work or of their daily hours of rest be maintained to allow monitoring of compliance with paragraphs 5 to 11 inclusive of this Standard.  The records shall be in a standardized format established by the competent authority taking into account any available guidelines of the International Labour Organization or shall be in any standard format prepared by the Organization.  They shall be in the languages required by paragraph 11 of this Standard.  The seafarers shall receive a copy of the records pertaining to them which shall be endorsed by the master, or a person authorized by the master, and by the seafarers.

13. Nothing in paragraphs 5 and 6 of this Standard shall prevent a Member from having national laws or regulations or a procedure for the competent authority to authorize or register collective agreements permitting exceptions to the limits set out.  Such exceptions shall, as far as possible, follow the provisions of this Standard but may take account of more frequent or longer leave periods or the granting of compensatory leave for watchkeeping seafarers or seafarers working on board ships on short voyages.

14. Nothing in this Standard shall be deemed to impair the right of the master of a ship to require a seafarer to perform any hours of work necessary for the immediate safety of the ship, persons on board or cargo, or for the purpose of giving assistance to other ships or persons in distress at sea.  Accordingly, the master may suspend the schedule of hours of work or hours of rest and require a seafarer to perform any hours of work necessary until the normal situation has been restored.  As soon as practicable after the normal situation has been restored, the master shall ensure that any seafarers who have performed work in a scheduled rest period are provided with an adequate period of rest.

Guideline B2.3 - Hours of work and hours of rest

Guideline B2.3.1 - Young seafarers

 1. At sea and in port the following provisions should apply to all young seafarers under the age of 18: 

(a) working hours should not exceed eight hours per day and 40 hours per week and overtime should be worked only where unavoidable for safety reasons;

(b) sufficient time should be allowed for all meals, and a break of at least one hour for the main meal of the day should be assured; and

(c) a 15-minute rest period as soon as possible following each two hours of continuous work should be allowed.

2. Exceptionally, the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Guideline need not be applied if:

(a) they are impracticable for young seafarers in the deck, engine room and catering departments assigned to watchkeeping duties or working on a rostered shift-work system; or

(b) the effective training of young seafarers in accordance with established programmes and schedules would be impaired.

 3. Such exceptional situations should be recorded, with reasons, and signed by the master.
4. Paragraph 1 of this Guideline does not exempt young seafarers from the general obligation on all seafarers to work during any emergency as provided for in Standard A2.3, paragraph 14.

Regulation 2.4 - Entitlement to leave

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers have adequate leave

 1. Each Member shall require that seafarers employed on ships that fly its flag are given paid annual leave under appropriate conditions, in accordance with the provisions in the Code.

 2. Seafarers shall be granted shore leave to benefit their health and well-being and consistent with the operational requirements of their positions.

Standard A2.4 - Entitlement to leave

 1. Each Member shall adopt laws and regulations determining the minimum standards for annual leave for seafarers serving on ships that fly its flag, taking proper account of the special needs of seafarers with respect to such leave.

2. Subject to any collective agreement or laws or regulations providing for an appropriate method of calculation that takes account of the special needs of seafarers in this respect, the annual leave with pay entitlement shall be calculated on the basis of a minimum of 2.5 calendar days per month of employment.  The manner in which the length of service is calculated shall be determined by the competent authority or through the appropriate machinery in each country.  Justified absences from work shall not be considered as annual leave.

 3. Any agreement to forgo the minimum annual leave with pay prescribed in this Standard, except in cases provided for by the competent authority, shall be prohibited.

Guideline B2.4 - Entitlement to leave

Guideline B2.4.1 - Calculation of entitlement

 1. Under conditions as determined by the competent authority or through the appropriate machinery in each country, service off-articles should be counted as part of the period of service.

 2. Under conditions as determined by the competent authority or in an applicable collective agreement, absence from work to attend an approved maritime vocational training course or for such reasons as illness or injury or for maternity should be counted as part of the period of service.

3. The level of pay during annual leave should be at the seafarer’s normal level of remuneration provided for by national laws or regulations or in the applicable seafarers’ employment agreement.  For seafarers employed for periods shorter than one year or in the event of termination of the employment relationship, entitlement to leave should be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

4. The following should not be counted as part of annual leave with pay:

(a) public and customary holidays recognized as such in the flag State, whether or not they fall during the annual leave with pay;

(b) periods of incapacity for work resulting from illness or injury or from maternity, under conditions as determined by the competent authority or through the appropriate machinery in each country;

(c) temporary shore leave granted to a seafarer while under an employment agreement; and

(d) compensatory leave of any kind, under conditions as determined by the competent authority or through the appropriate machinery in each country.

Guideline B2.4.2 - Taking of annual leave 

 1. The time at which annual leave is to be taken should, unless it is fixed by regulation, collective agreement, arbitration award or other means consistent with national practice, be determined by the shipowner after consultation and, as far as possible, in agreement with the seafarers concerned or their representatives.

2. Seafarers should in principle have the right to take annual leave in the place with which they have a substantial connection, which would normally be the same as the place to which they are entitled to be repatriated.  Seafarers should not be required without their consent to take annual leave due to them in another place except under the provisions of a seafarers’ employment agreement or of national laws or regulations.

3. If seafarers are required to take their annual leave from a place other than that permitted by paragraph 2 of this Guideline, they should be entitled to free transportation to the place where they were engaged or recruited, whichever is nearer their home; subsistence and other costs directly involved should be for the account of the shipowner; the travel time involved should not be deducted from the annual leave with pay due to the seafarer.

 4. A seafarer taking annual leave should be recalled only in cases of extreme emergency and with the seafarer’s consent.

Guideline B2.4.3 - Division and accumulation

 1. The division of the annual leave with pay into parts, or the accumulation of such annual leave due in respect of one year together with a subsequent period of leave, may be authorized by the competent authority or through the appropriate machinery in each country.

 2. Subject to paragraph 1 of this Guideline and unless otherwise provided in an agreement applicable to the shipowner and the seafarer concerned, the annual leave with pay recommended in this Guideline should consist of an uninterrupted period.

Guideline B2.4.4 - Young seafarers

 1. Special measures should be considered with respect to young seafarers under the age of 18 who have served six months or any other shorter period of time under a collective agreement or seafarers’ employment agreement without leave on a foreign-going ship which has not returned to their country of residence in that time, and will not return in the subsequent three months of the voyage. Such measures could consist of their repatriation at no expense to themselves to the place of original engagement in their country of residence for the purpose of taking any leave earned during the voyage.

Regulation 2.5 - Repatriation

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers are able to return home

 1. Seafarers have a right to be repatriated at no cost to themselves in the circumstances and under the conditions specified in the Code.

 2. Each Member shall require ships that fly its flag to provide financial security to ensure that seafarers are duly repatriated in accordance with the Code.

Standard A2.5 - Repatriation

 1. Each Member shall ensure that seafarers on ships that fly its flag are entitled to repatriation in the following circumstances:

(a) if the seafarers’ employment agreement expires while they are abroad;

(b) when the seafarers’ employment agreement is terminated:

 (i) by the shipowner; or

 (ii) by the seafarer for justified reasons; and also

(c) when the seafarers are no longer able to carry out their duties under their employment agreement or cannot be expected to carry them out in the specific circumstances.

2. Each Member shall ensure that there are appropriate provisions in its laws and regulations or other measures or in collective bargaining agreements, prescribing:

(a) the circumstances in which seafarers are entitled to repatriation in accordance with paragraph 1(b) and (c) of this Standard;

(b) the maximum duration of service periods on board following which a seafarer is entitled to repatriation — such periods to be less than 12 months; and 

(c) the precise entitlements to be accorded by shipowners for repatriation, including those relating to the destinations of repatriation, the mode of transport, the items of expense to be covered and other arrangements to be made by shipowners.

3. Each Member shall prohibit shipowners from requiring that seafarers make an advance payment towards the cost of repatriation at the beginning of their employment, and also from recovering the cost of repatriation from the seafarers’ wages or other entitlements except where the seafarer has been found, in accordance with national laws or regulations or other measures or applicable collective bargaining agreements, to be in serious default of the seafarer’s employment obligations.

 4. National laws and regulations shall not prejudice any right of the shipowner to recover the cost of repatriation under third-party contractual arrangements.

5. If a shipowner fails to make arrangements for or to meet the cost of repatriation of seafarers who are entitled to be repatriated:

(a) the competent authority of the Member whose flag the ship flies shall arrange for repatriation of the seafarers concerned; if it fails to do so, the State from which the seafarers are to be repatriated or the State of which they are a national may arrange for their repatriation and recover the cost from the Member whose flag the ship flies; 

(b) costs incurred in repatriating seafarers shall be recoverable from the shipowner by the Member whose flag the ship flies;

(c) the expenses of repatriation shall in no case be a charge upon the seafarers, except as provided for in paragraph 3 of this Standard.

6. Taking into account applicable international instruments, including the International Convention on Arrest of Ships, 1999, a Member which has paid he cost of repatriation pursuant to this Code may detain, or request the detention of, the ships of the shipowner concerned until the reimbursement has been made in accordance with paragraph 5 of this Standard.
7. Each Member shall facilitate the repatriation of seafarers serving on ships which call at its ports or pass through its territorial or internal waters, as well as their replacement on board.

8. In particular, a Member shall not refuse the right of repatriation to any seafarer because of the financial circumstances of a shipowner or because of the shipowner’s inability or unwillingness to replace a seafarer. 

 9. Each Member shall require that ships that fly its flag carry and make available to seafarers a copy of the applicable national provisions regarding repatriation written in an appropriate language.

Guideline B2.5 - Repatriation

Guideline B2.5.1 - Entitlement 

 1. Seafarers should be entitled to repatriation: 

(a) in the case covered by Standard A2.5, paragraph 1(a), upon the expiry of the ｐeriod of notice given in accordance with the provisions of the seafarers’ employment agreement;

(b) in the cases covered by Standard A2.5, paragraph 1(b) and (c): 

 (i) in the event of illness or injury or other medical condition which requires their repatriation when found medically fit to travel;

 (ii) in the event of shipwreck; 

 (iii) in the event of the shipowner not being able to continue to fulfil their legal or contractual obligations as an employer of the seafarers by reason of insolvency, sale of ship, change of ship’s registration or any other similar reason; 

 (iv) in the event of a ship being bound for a war zone, as defined by national laws or regulations or seafarers’ employment agreements, to which the seafarer does not consent to go; and 

 (v) in the event of termination or interruption of employment in accordance with an industrial award or collective agreement, or termination of employment for any other similar reason. 

 2. In determining the maximum duration of service periods on board following which a seafarer is entitled to repatriation, in accordance with this Code, account should be taken of factors affecting the seafarers’ working environment. Each Member should seek, wherever possible, to reduce these periods in the light of technological changes and developments and might be guided by any recommendations made on the matter by the Joint Maritime Commission. 

3. The costs to be borne by the shipowner for repatriation under Standard A2.5 should include at least the following: 

(a) passage to the destination selected for repatriation in accordance with paragraph 6 of this Guideline; 

(b) accommodation and food from the moment the seafarers leave the ship until they reach the repatriation destination; 

(c) pay and allowances from the moment the seafarers leave the ship until they reach the repatriation destination, if provided for by national laws or regulations or collective agreements; 

(d) transportation of 30 kg of the seafarers’ personal luggage to the repatriation destination; and 

(e) medical treatment when necessary until the seafarers are medically fit to travel to the repatriation destination. 

4. Time spent awaiting repatriation and repatriation travel time should not be deducted from paid leave accrued to the seafarers. 

 5. Shipowners should be required to continue to cover the costs of repatriation until the seafarers concerned are landed at a destination prescribed pursuant to this Code or are provided with suitable employment on board a ship proceeding to one of those destinations.

 6. Each Member should require that shipowners take responsibility for repatriation arrangements by appropriate and expeditious means. The normal mode of transport should be by air. The Member should prescribe the destinations to which seafarers may be repatriated. The destinations should include the countries with which seafarers may be deemed to have a substantial connection including: 

(a) the place at which the seafarer agreed to enter into the engagement; 

(b) the place stipulated by collective agreement; 

(c) the seafarer’s country of residence; or 

(d) such other place as may be mutually agreed at the time of engagement. 

 7. Seafarers should have the right to choose from among the prescribed destinations the place to which they are to be repatriated. 

 8. The entitlement to repatriation may lapse if the seafarers concerned do not claim it within a reasonable period of time to be defined by national laws or regulations or collective agreements.

Guideline B2.5.2 - Implementation by Members 

 1. Every possible practical assistance should be given to a seafarer stranded in a foreign port pending repatriation and in the event of delay in the repatriation of the seafarer, the competent authority in the foreign port should ensure that the consular or local representative of the flag State and the seafarer’s State of nationality or State of residence, as appropriate, is informed immediately.

 2. Each Member should have regard to whether proper provision is made:

(a) for the return of seafarers employed on a ship that flies the flag of a foreign country who are put ashore in a foreign port for reasons for which they are not responsible:

 (i) to the port at which the seafarer concerned was engaged; or

 (ii) to a port in the seafarer’s State of nationality or State of residence, as appropriate; or

 (iii) to another port agreed upon between the seafarer and the master or shipowner, with the approval of the competent authority or under other appropriate safeguards;

(b) for medical care and maintenance of seafarers employed on a ship that flies the flag of a foreign country who are put ashore in a foreign port in consequence of sickness or injury incurred in the service of the ship and not due to their own wilful misconduct.

3. If, after young seafarers under the age of 18 have served on a ship for at least four months during their first foreign-going voyage, it becomes apparent that they are unsuited to life at sea, they should be given the opportunity of being repatriated at no expense to themselves from the first suitable port of call in which there are consular services of the flag State, or the State of nationality or residence of the young seafarer.  Notification of any such repatriation, with the reasons therefor, should be given to the authority which issued the papers enabling the young seafarers concerned to take up seagoing employment.

Regulation 2.6 - Seafarer compensation for the ship’s loss
or foundering

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers are compensated when a ship is lost
or has foundered

 1. Seafarers are entitled to adequate compensation in the case of injury, loss or unemployment arising from the ship’s loss or foundering.

Standard A2.6 - Seafarer compensation for the ship’s loss
or foundering

 1. Each Member shall make rules ensuring that, in every case of loss or foundering of any ship, the shipowner shall pay to each seafarer on board an indemnity against unemployment resulting from such loss or foundering.

 2. The rules referred to in paragraph 1 of this Standard shall be without prejudice to any other rights a seafarer may have under the national law of the Member concerned for losses or injuries arising from a ship’s loss or foundering.

Guideline B2.6 - Seafarer compensation
for the ship’s loss or foundering

Guideline B2.6.1 - Calculation of indemnity against unemployment

 1. The indemnity against unemployment resulting from a ship’s foundering or loss should be paid for the days during which the seafarer remains in fact unemployed at the same rate as the wages payable under the employment agreement, but the total indemnity payable to any one seafarer may be limited to two months’ wages.

 2. Each Member should ensure that seafarers have the same legal remedies for recovering such indemnities as they have for recovering arrears of wages earned during the service.

Regulation 2.7 - Manning levels

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers work on board ships with sufficient personnel for the safe, efficient and secure operation of the ship

 1. Each Member shall require that all ships that fly its flag have a sufficient number of seafarers employed on board to ensure that ships are operated safely, efficiently and with due regard to security under all conditions, taking into account concerns about seafarer fatigue and the particular nature and conditions of the voyage.

Standard A2.7 - Manning levels

 1. Each Member shall require that all ships that fly its flag have a sufficient number of seafarers on board to ensure that ships are operated safely, efficiently and with due regard to security.  Every ship shall be manned by a crew that is adequate, in terms of size and qualifications, to ensure the safety and security of the ship and its personnel, under all operating conditions, in accordance with the minimum safe manning document or an equivalent issued by the competent authority, and to comply with the standards of this Convention.

 2. When determining, approving or revising manning levels, the competent authority shall take into account the need to avoid or minimize excessive hours of work to ensure sufficient rest and to limit fatigue, as well as the principles in applicable international instruments, especially those of the International Maritime Organization, on manning levels.

 3. When determining manning levels, the competent authority shall take into account all the requirements within Regulation 3.2 and Standard A3.2 concerning food and catering.

Guideline B2.7 - Manning levels

Guideline B2.7.1 - Dispute settlement

 1. Each Member should maintain, or satisfy itself that there is maintained, efficient machinery for the investigation and settlement of complaints or disputes concerning the manning levels on a ship.

 2. Representatives of shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations should participate, with or without other persons or authorities, in the operation of such machinery.

Regulation 2.8 — Career and skill development
and opportunities for seafarers’ employment

Purpose:  To promote career and skill development 
and employment opportunities for seafarers 

 1. Each Member shall have national policies to promote employment in the maritime sector and to encourage career and skill development and greater employment opportunities for seafarers domiciled in its territory.

Standard A2.8 — Career and skill development
and employment opportunities for seafarers

 1. Each Member shall have national policies that encourage career and skill development and employment opportunities for seafarers, in order to provide the maritime sector with a stable and competent workforce.

 2. The aim of the policies referred to in paragraph 1 of this Standard shall be to help seafarers strengthen their competencies, qualifications and employment opportunities. 

 3. Each Member shall, after consulting the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, establish clear objectives for the vocational guidance, education and training of seafarers whose duties on board ship primarily relate to the safe operation and navigation of the ship, including ongoing training.

Guideline B2.8 — Career and skill development and employment
opportunities for seafarers

Guideline B2.8.1 — Measures to promote career and skill development 
and employment opportunities for seafarers

 1. Measures to achieve the objectives set out in Standard A2.8 might include:

(a) agreements providing for career development and skills training with a shipowner or an organization of shipowners; or 

(b) arrangements for promoting employment through the establishment and maintenance of registers or lists, by categories, of qualified seafarers; or 

(c) promotion of opportunities, both on board and ashore, for further training and education of seafarers to provide for skill development and portable competencies in order to secure and retain decent work, to improve individual employment prospects and to meet the changing technology and labour market conditions of the maritime industry.

Guideline B2.8.2 — Register of seafarers 

 1. Where registers or lists govern the employment of seafarers, these registers or lists should include all occupational categories of seafarers in a manner determined by national law or practice or by collective agreement.

 2. Seafarers on such a register or list should have priority of engagement for seafaring. 

 3. Seafarers on such a register or list should be required to be available for work in a manner to be determined by national law or practice or by collective agreement.

 4. To the extent that national laws or regulations permit, the number of seafarers on such registers or lists should be periodically reviewed so as to achieve levels adapted to the needs of the maritime industry. 

 5. When a reduction in the number of seafarers on such a register or list becomes necessary, all appropriate measures should be taken to prevent or minimize detrimental effects on seafarers, account being taken of the economic and social situation of the country concerned.

TITLE 3.  ACCOMMODATION, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES,
FOOD AND CATERING

Regulation 3.1 — Accommodation and recreational facilities

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers have decent accommodation and recreational facilities on board 

 1. Each Member shall ensure that ships that fly its flag provide and maintain decent accommodations and recreational facilities for seafarers working or living on board, or both, consistent with promoting the seafarers’ health and well-being.

 2. The requirements in the Code implementing this Regulation which relate to ship construction and equipment apply only to ships constructed on or after the date when this Convention comes into force for the Member concerned.  For ships constructed before that date, the requirements relating to ship construction and equipment that are set out in the Accommodation of Crews Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 92), and the Accommodation of Crews (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1970 (No. 133), shall continue to apply to the extent that they were applicable, prior to that date, under the law or practice of the Member concerned.  A ship shall be deemed to have been constructed on the date when its keel is laid or when it is at a similar stage of construction.

 3. Unless expressly provided otherwise, any requirement under an amendment to the Code relating to the provision of seafarer accommodation and recreational facilities shall apply only to ships constructed on or after the amendment takes effect for the Member concerned.

Standard A3.1 — Accommodation and recreational facilities

 1. Each Member shall adopt laws and regulations requiring that ships that fly its flag:

(a) meet minimum standards to ensure that any accommodation for seafarers, working or living on board, or both, is safe, decent and in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Standard; and 

(b) are inspected to ensure initial and ongoing compliance with those standards.

 2. In developing and applying the laws and regulations to implement this Standard, the competent authority, after consulting the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, shall: 

(a) take into account Regulation 4.3 and the associated Code provisions on health and safety protection and accident prevention, in light of the specific needs of seafarers that both live and work on board ship, and

(b) give due consideration to the guidance contained in Part B of this Code.

 3. The inspections required under Regulation 5.1.4 shall be carried out when:

(a) a ship is registered or re-registered; or

(b) the seafarer accommodation on a ship has been substantially altered.

 4. The competent authority shall pay particular attention to ensuring implementation of the requirements of this Convention relating to:

(a) the size of rooms and other accommodation spaces; 

(b) heating and ventilation; 

(c) noise and vibration and other ambient factors; 

(d) sanitary facilities; 

(e) lighting; and 

(f) hospital accommodation. 

 5. The competent authority of each Member shall require that ships that fly its flag meet the minimum standards for on-board accommodation and recreational facilities that are set out in paragraphs 6 to 17 of this Standard.

 6. With respect to general requirements for accommodation: 

(a) there shall be adequate headroom in all seafarer accommodation; the minimum permitted headroom in all seafarer accommodation where full and free movement is necessary shall be not less than 203 centimetres; the competent authority may permit some limited reduction in headroom in any space, or part of any space, in such accommodation where it is satisfied that such reduction:

 (i) is reasonable; and 

 (ii) will not result in discomfort to the seafarers; 

(b) the accommodation shall be adequately insulated; 

(c) in ships other than passenger ships, as defined in Regulation 2(e) and (f) of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (the “SOLAS Convention”), sleeping rooms shall be situated above the load line amidships or aft, except that in exceptional cases, where the size, type or intended service of the ship renders any other location impracticable, sleeping rooms may be located in the fore part of the ship, but in no case forward of the collision bulkhead;

(d) in passenger ships, and in special ships constructed in compliance with the IMO Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 1983, and subsequent versions (hereinafter called “special purpose ships”), the competent authority may, on condition that satisfactory arrangements are made for lighting and ventilation, permit the location of sleeping rooms below the load line, but in no case shall they be located immediately beneath working alleyways;

(e) there shall be no direct openings into sleeping rooms from cargo and machinery spaces or from galleys, storerooms, drying rooms or communal sanitary areas; that part of a bulkhead separating such places from sleeping rooms and external bulkheads shall be efficiently constructed of steel or other approved substance and be watertight and gas-tight;

(f) the materials used to construct internal bulkheads, panelling and sheeting, floors and joinings shall be suitable for the purpose and conducive to ensuring a healthy environment; 

(g) proper lighting and sufficient drainage shall be provided; and

(h) accommodation and recreational and catering facilities shall meet the requirements in Regulation 4.3, and the related provisions in the Code, on health and safety protection and accident prevention, with respect to preventing the risk of exposure to hazardous levels of noise and vibration and other ambient factors and chemicals on board ships, and to provide an acceptable occupational and onboard living environment for seafarers.

 7. With respect to requirements for ventilation and heating:

(a) sleeping rooms and mess rooms shall be adequately ventilated;

(b) ships, except those regularly engaged in trade where temperate climatic conditions do not require this, shall be equipped with air conditioning for seafarer accommodation, for any separate radio room and for any centralized machinery control room;

(c) all sanitary spaces shall have ventilation to the open air, independently of any other part of the accommodation; and

(d) adequate heat through an appropriate heating system shall be provided, except in ships exclusively on voyages in tropical climates.

 8. With respect to requirements for lighting, subject to such special arrangements as may be permitted in passenger ships, sleeping rooms and mess rooms shall be lit by natural light and provided with adequate artificial light.

 9. When sleeping accommodation on board ships is required, the following requirements for sleeping rooms apply:

(a) in ships other than passenger ships, an individual sleeping room shall be provided for each seafarer; in the case of ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage or special purpose ships, exemptions from this requirement may be granted by the competent authority after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned;

(b) separate sleeping rooms shall be provided for men and for women;

(c) sleeping rooms shall be of adequate size and properly equipped so as to ensure reasonable comfort and to facilitate tidiness;

(d) a separate berth for each seafarer shall in all circumstances be provided;

(e) the minimum inside dimensions of a berth shall be at least 198 centimetres by 80 centimetres;

(f) in single berth seafarers’ sleeping rooms the floor area shall not be less than:

 (i) 4.5 square metres in ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage;

 (ii) 5.5 square metres in ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or over but less than 10,000 gross tonnage;

 (iii) 7 square metres in ships of 10,000 gross tonnage or over;

(g) however, in order to provide single berth sleeping rooms on ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage, passenger ships and special purpose ships, the competent authority may allow a reduced floor area;

(h) in ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage other than passenger ships and special purpose ships, sleeping rooms may be occupied by a maximum of two seafarers; the floor area of such sleeping rooms shall not be less than 7 square metres;

(i) on passenger ships and special purpose ships the floor area of sleeping rooms for seafarers not performing the duties of ships’ officers shall not be less than:

 (i) 7.5 square metres in rooms accommodating two persons;

 (ii) 11.5 square metres in rooms accommodating three persons;

 (iii) 14.5 square metres in rooms accommodating four persons;

(j) on special purpose ships sleeping rooms may accommodate more than four persons; the floor area of such sleeping rooms shall not be less than 3.6 square metres per person;

(k) on ships other than passenger ships and special purpose ships, sleeping rooms for seafarers who perform the duties of ships’ officers, where no private sitting room or day room is provided, the floor area per person shall not be less than:

 (i) 7.5 square metres in ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage;

 (ii) 8.5 square metres in ships of 3,000 gross tonnage or over but less than 10,000 gross tonnage;

 (iii) 10 square metres in ships of 10,000 gross tonnage or over;

(l) on passenger ships and special purpose ships the floor area for seafarers performing the duties of ships’ officers where no private sitting room or day room is provided, the floor area per person for junior officers shall not be less than 7.5 square metres and for senior officers not less than 8.5 square metres; junior officers are understood to be at the operational level, and senior officers at the management level;

(m) the master, the chief engineer and the chief navigating officer shall have, in addition to their sleeping rooms, an adjoining sitting room, day room or equivalent additional space; ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage may be exempted by the competent authority from this requirement after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned;

(n) for each occupant, the furniture shall include a clothes locker of ample space (minimum 475 litres) and a drawer or equivalent space of not less than 56 litres; if the drawer is incorporated in the clothes locker then the combined minimum volume of the clothes locker shall be 500 litres; it shall be fitted with a shelf and be able to be locked by the occupant so as to ensure privacy;

(o) each sleeping room shall be provided with a table or desk, which may be of the fixed, drop-leaf or slide-out type, and with comfortable seating accommodation as necessary.

 10. With respect to requirements for mess rooms:

(a) mess rooms shall be located apart from the sleeping rooms and as close as practicable to the galley; ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage may be exempted by the competent authority from this requirement after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned; and 

(b) mess rooms shall be of adequate size and comfort and properly furnished and equipped (including ongoing facilities for refreshment), taking account of the number of seafarers likely to use them at any one time; provision shall be made for separate or common mess room facilities as appropriate.

 11. With respect to requirements for sanitary facilities:

(a) all seafarers shall have convenient access on the ship to sanitary facilities meeting minimum standards of health and hygiene and reasonable standards of comfort, with separate sanitary facilities being provided for men and for women;

(b) there shall be sanitary facilities within easy access of the navigating bridge and the machinery space or near the engine room control centre; ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage may be exempted by the competent authority from this requirement after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned;

(c) in all ships a minimum of one toilet, one wash basin and one tub or shower or both for every six persons or less who do not have personal facilities shall be provided at a convenient location;

(d) with the exception of passenger ships, each sleeping room shall be provided with a washbasin having hot and cold running fresh water, except where such a wash-basin is situated in the private bathroom provided;

(e) in passenger ships normally engaged on voyages of not more than four hours’ duration, consideration may be given by the competent authority to special arrangements or to a reduction in the number of facilities required; and

(f) hot and cold running fresh water shall be available in all wash places.

 12. With respect to requirements for hospital accommodation, ships carrying 15 or more seafarers and engaged in a voyage of more than three days’ duration shall provide separate hospital accommodation to be used exclusively for medical purposes; the competent authority may relax this requirement for ships engaged in coastal trade; in approving on-board hospital accommodation, the competent authority shall ensure that the accommodation will, in all weathers, be easy of access, provide comfortable housing for the occupants and be conducive to their receiving prompt and proper attention.

 13. Appropriately situated and furnished laundry facilities shall be available.

 14. All ships shall have a space or spaces on open deck to which the seafarers can have access when off duty, which are of adequate area having regard to the size of the ship and the number of seafarers on board.

 15. All ships shall be provided with separate offices or a common ship’s office for use by deck and engine departments; ships of less than 3,000 gross tonnage may be exempted by the competent authority from this requirement after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned.

 16. Ships regularly trading to mosquito-infested ports shall be fitted with appropriate devices as required by the competent authority.

 17. Appropriate seafarers’ recreational facilities, amenities and services, as adapted to meet the special needs of seafarers who must live and work on ships, shall be provided on board for the benefit of all seafarers, taking into account Regulation 4.3 and the associated Code provisions on health and safety protection and accident prevention.

 18. The competent authority shall require frequent inspections to be carried out on board ships, by or under the authority of the master, to ensure that seafarer accommodation is clean, decently habitable and maintained in a good state of repair.  The results of each such inspection shall be recorded and be available for review.

 19. In the case of ships where there is need to take account, without discrimination, of the interests of seafarers having differing and distinctive religious and social practices, the competent authority may, after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, permit fairly applied variations in respect of this Standard on condition that such variations do not result in overall facilities less favourable than those which would result from the application of this Standard.

 20. Each Member may, after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, exempt ships of less than 200 gross tonnage where it is reasonable to do so, taking account of the size of the ship and the number of persons on board in relation to the requirements of the following provisions of this Standard:

(a) paragraphs 7(b), 11(d) and 13; and

(b) paragraph 9(f) and (h) to (1) inclusive, with respect to floor area only.

 21. Any exemptions with respect to the requirements of this Standard may be made only where they are expressly permitted in this Standard and only for particular circumstances in which such exemptions can be clearly justified on strong grounds and subject to protecting the seafarers’ health and safety.

Guideline B3.1 - Accommodation and recreational facilities

Guideline B3.1.1 - Design and construction

 1. External bulkheads of sleeping rooms and mess rooms should be adequately insulated.  All machinery casings and all boundary bulkheads of galleys and other spaces in which heat is produced should be adequately insulated where there is a possibility of resulting heat effects in adjoining accommodation or passageways.  Measures should also be taken to provide protection from heat effects of steam or hot-water service pipes or both.

2. Sleeping rooms, mess rooms, recreation rooms and alleyways in the accommodation space should be adequately insulated to prevent condensation or overheating.

 3. The bulkhead surfaces and deckheads should be of material with a surface easily kept clean.  No form of construction likely to harbour vermin should be used.

 4. The bulkhead surfaces and deckheads in sleeping rooms and mess rooms should be capable of being easily kept clean and light in colour with a durable, nontoxic finish.

5. The decks in all seafarer accommodation should be of approved material and construction and should provide a non-slip surface impervious to damp and easily kept clean.

 6. Where the floorings are made of composite materials, the joints with the sides should be profiled to avoid crevices.

Guideline B3.1.2 - Ventilation

 1. The system of ventilation for sleeping rooms and mess rooms should be controlled so as to maintain the air in a satisfactory condition and to ensure a sufficiency of air movement in all conditions of weather and climate.

 2. Air-conditioning systems, whether of a centralized or individual unit type, should be designed to:

(a) maintain the air at a satisfactory temperature and relative humidity as compared to outside air conditions, ensure a sufficiency of air changes in all air-conditioned spaces, take account of the particular characteristics of operations at sea and not produce excessive noises or vibrations; and

(b) facilitate easy cleaning and disinfection to prevent or control the spread of disease.

 3. Power for the operation of the air conditioning and other aids to ventilation required by the preceding paragraphs of this Guideline should be available at all times when seafarers are living or working on board and conditions so require.  However, this power need not be provided from an emergency source.

Guideline B3.1.3 - Heating

 1. The system of heating the seafarer accommodation should be in operation at all times when seafarers are living or working on board and conditions require its use.

 2. In all ships in which a heating system is required, the heating should be by means of hot water, warm air, electricity, steam or equivalent.  However, within the accommodation area, steam should not be used as a medium for heat transmission.  The heating system should be capable of maintaining the temperature in seafarer accommodation at a satisfactory level under normal conditions of weather and climate likely to be met within the trade in which the ship is engaged.  The competent authority should prescribe the standard to be provided.

 3. Radiators and other heating apparatus should be placed and, where necessary, shielded so as to avoid risk of fire or danger or discomfort to the occupants.

Guideline B3.1.4 - Lighting

 1. In all ships, electric light should be provided in the seafarer accommodation.  If there are not two independent sources of electricity for lighting, additional lighting should be provided by properly constructed lamps or lighting apparatus for emergency use.

 2. In sleeping rooms an electric reading lamp should be installed at the head of each berth.

 3. Suitable standards of natural and artificial lighting should be fixed by the competent authority.

Guideline B3.1.5 - Sleeping rooms

 1. There should be adequate berth arrangements on board, making it as comfortable as possible for the seafarer and any partner who may accompany the seafarer.

 2. Where the size of the ship, the activity in which it is to be engaged and its lay-out make it reasonable and practicable, sleeping rooms should be planned and equipped with a private bathroom, including a toilet, so as to provide reasonable comfort for the occupants and to facilitate tidiness.

 3. As far as practicable, sleeping rooms of seafarers should be so arranged that watches are separated and that no seafarers working during the day share a room with watchkeepers. 

 4. In the case of seafarers performing the duty of petty officers there should be no more than two persons per sleeping room.

 5. Consideration should be given to extending the facility referred to in Standard A3.1, paragraph 9(m), to the second engineer officer when practicable.

 6. Space occupied by berths and lockers, chests of drawers and seats should be included in the measurement of the floor area.  Small or irregularly shaped spaces which do not add effectively to the space available for free movement and cannot be used for installing furniture should be excluded.

 7. Berths should not be arranged in tiers of more than two; in the case of berths placed along the ship’s side, there should be only a single tier where a sidelight is situated above a berth.

 8. The lower berth in a double tier should be not less than 30 centimetres above the floor; the upper berth should be placed approximately midway between the bottom of the lower berth and the lower side of the deckhead beams.

 9. The framework and the lee-board, if any, of a berth should be of approved material, hard, smooth, and not likely to corrode or to harbour vermin.

 10. If tubular frames are used for the construction of berths, they should be completely sealed and without perforations which would give access to vermin.

 11. Each berth should be fitted with a comfortable mattress with cushioning bottom or a combined cushioning mattress, including a spring bottom or a spring mattress.  The mattress and cushioning material used should be made of approved material.  Stuffing of material likely to harbour vermin should not be used.

 12. When one berth is placed over another, a dust-proof bottom should be fitted beneath the bottom mattress or spring bottom of the upper berth.

 13. The furniture should be of smooth, hard material not liable to warp or corrode.

 14. Sleeping rooms should be fitted with curtains or equivalent for the sidelights.

 15. Sleeping rooms should be fitted with a mirror, small cabinets for toilet requisites, a book rack and a sufficient number of coat hooks.

Guideline B3.1.6 - Mess rooms 

 1. Mess room facilities may be either common or separate. The decision in this respect should be taken after consultation with seafarers’ and shipowners’ representatives and subject to the approval of the competent authority. Account should be taken of factors such as the size of the ship and the distinctive cultural, religious and social needs of the seafarers. 

 2. Where separate mess room facilities are to be provided to seafarers, then separate mess rooms should be provided for: 

(a) master and officers; and 

(b) petty officers and other seafarers. 

 3. On ships other than passenger ships, the floor area of mess rooms for seafarers should be not less than 1.5 square metres per person of the planned seating capacity. 

 4. In all ships, mess rooms should be equipped with tables and appropriate seats, fixed or movable, sufficient to accommodate the greatest number of seafarers likely to use them at any one time. 

 5. There should be available at all times when seafarers are on board:

(a) a refrigerator, which should be conveniently situated and of sufficient capacity for the number of persons using the mess room or mess rooms; 

(b) facilities for hot beverages; and 

(c) cool water facilities.

 6. Where available pantries are not accessible to mess rooms, adequate lockers for mess utensils and proper facilities for washing utensils should be provided.

 7. The tops of tables and seats should be of damp-resistant material.

Guideline B3.1.7 - Sanitary accommodation 

 1. Washbasins and tub baths should be of adequate size and constructed of approved material with a smooth surface not liable to crack, flake or corrode.

 2. All toilets should be of an approved pattern and provided with an ample flush of water or with some other suitable flushing means, such as air, which are available at all times and independently controllable. 

 3. Sanitary accommodation intended for the use of more than one person should comply with the following: 

(a) floors should be of approved durable material, impervious to damp, and should be properly drained;

(b) bulkheads should be of steel or other approved material and should be watertight up to at least 23 centimetres above the level of the deck; 

(c) the accommodation should be sufficiently lit, heated and ventilated; 

(d) toilets should be situated convenient to, but separate from, sleeping rooms and wash rooms, without direct access from the sleeping rooms or from a passage between sleeping rooms and toilets to which there is no other access; this requirement does not apply where a toilet is located in a compartment between two sleeping rooms having a total of not more than four seafarers; and

(e) where there is more than one toilet in a compartment, they should be sufficiently screened to ensure privacy. 

 4. The laundry facilities provided for seafarers’ use should include:

(a) washing machines; 

(b) drying machines or adequately heated and ventilated drying rooms; and 

(c) irons and ironing boards or their equivalent.

Guideline B3.1.8 - Hospital accommodation 

 1. The hospital accommodation should be designed so as to facilitate consultation and the giving of medical first aid and to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. 

 2. The arrangement of the entrance, berths, lighting, ventilation, heating and water supply should be designed to ensure the comfort and facilitate the treatment of the occupants. 

 3. The number of hospital berths required should be prescribed by the competent authority. 

 4. Sanitary accommodation should be provided for the exclusive use of the occupants of the hospital accommodation, either as part of the accommodation or in close proximity thereto. Such sanitary accommodation should comprise a minimum of one toilet, one washbasin and one tub or shower.

Guideline B.3.1.9 - Other facilities

 1. Where separate facilities for engine department personnel to change their clothes are provided, they should be:

(a) located outside the machinery space but with easy access to it; and

(b) fitted with individual clothes lockers as well as with tubs or showers or both and washbasins having hot and cold running fresh water.

Guideline B3.1.10 - Bedding, mess utensils and miscellaneous provisions

 1. Each Member should consider applying the following principles:

(a) clean bedding and mess utensils should be supplied by the shipowner to all seafarers for use on board during service on the ship, and such seafarers should be responsible for their return at times specified by the master and on completion of service in the ship;

(b) bedding should be of good quality, and plates, cups and other mess utensils should be of approved material which can be easily cleaned; and

(c) towels, soap and toilet paper for all seafarers should be provided by the shipowner.

Guideline B3.1.11 - Recreational facilities, mail and ship visit arrangements

 1. Recreational facilities and services should be reviewed frequently to ensure that they are appropriate in the light of changes in the needs of seafarers resulting from technical, operational and other developments in the shipping industry.

 2. Furnishings for recreational facilities should as a minimum include a bookcase and facilities for reading, writing and, where practicable, games.

 3. In connection with the planning of recreation facilities, the competent authority should give consideration to the provision of a canteen.

 4. Consideration should also be given to including the following facilities at no cost to the seafarer, where practicable:

(a) a smoking room;

(b) television viewing and the reception of radio broadcasts;

(c) showing of films, the stock of which should be adequate for the duration of the voyage and, where necessary, changed at reasonable intervals;

(d) sports equipment including exercise equipment, table games and deck games;

(e) where possible, facilities for swimming;

(f) a library containing vocational and other books, the stock of which should be adequate for the duration of the voyage and changed at reasonable intervals;

(g) facilities for recreational handicrafts;

(h) electronic equipment such as a radio, television, video recorders, DVD/CD player, personal computer and software and cassette recorder/player;

(i) where appropriate, the provision of bars on board for seafarers unless these are contrary to national, religious or social customs; and

(j) reasonable access to ship-to-shore telephone communications, and email and Internet facilities, where available, with any charges for the use of these services being reasonable in amount.

 5. Every effort should be given to ensuring that the forwarding of seafarers’ mail is as reliable and expeditious as possible.  Efforts should also be considered for avoiding seafarers being required to pay additional postage when mail has to be readdressed owing to circumstances beyond their control.

 6. Measures should be considered to ensure, subject to any applicable national or international laws or regulations, that whenever possible and reasonable seafarers are expeditiously granted permission to have their partners, relatives and friends as visitors on board their ship when in port.  Such measures should meet any concerns for security clearances.

 7. Consideration should be given to the possibility of allowing seafarers to be accompanied by their partners on occasional voyages where this is practicable and reasonable.  Such partners should carry adequate insurance cover against accident and illness; the shipowners should give every assistance to the seafarer to effect such insurance.

Guideline B3.1.12 - Prevention of noise and vibration

 1. Accommodation and recreational and catering facilities should be located as far as practicable from the engines, steering gear rooms, deck winches, ventilation, heating and air-conditioning equipment and other noisy machinery and apparatus.

 2. Acoustic insulation or other appropriate sound-absorbing materials should be used in the construction and finishing of bulkheads, deckheads and decks within the sound-producing spaces as well as self-closing noise-isolating doors for machinery spaces.

 3. Engine rooms and other machinery spaces should be provided, wherever practicable, with soundproof centralized control rooms for engine-room personnel.  Working spaces, such as the machine shop, should be insulated, as far as practicable, from the general engine-room noise and measures should be taken to reduce noise in the operation of machinery.

 4. The limits for noise levels for working and living spaces should be in conformity with the ILO international guidelines on exposure levels, including those in the ILO code of practice entitled Ambient factors in the workplace, 2001, and, where applicable, the specific protection recommended by the International Maritime Organization, and with any subsequent amending and supplementary instruments for acceptable noise levels on board ships.  A copy of the applicable instruments in English or the working language of the ship should be carried on board and should be accessible to seafarers.
 5. No accommodation or recreational or catering facilities should be exposed to excessive vibration.

Regulation 3.2 - Food and catering

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers have access to good quality food and drinking water provided under regulated hygienic conditions

 1. Each Member shall ensure that ships that fly its flag carry on board and serve food and drinking water of appropriate quality, nutritional value and quantity that adequately covers the requirements of the ship and takes into account the differing cultural and religious backgrounds.

 2. Seafarers on board a ship shall be provided with food free of charge during the period of engagement.

 3. Seafarers employed as ships’ cooks with responsibility for food preparation must be trained and qualified for their position on board ship.

Standard A3.2 - Food and catering

 1. Each Member shall adopt laws and regulations or other measures to provide minimum standards for the quantity and quality of food and drinking water and for the catering standards that apply to meals provided to seafarers on ships that fly its flag, and shall undertake educational activities to promote awareness and implementation of the standards referred to in this paragraph.

2. Each Member shall ensure that ships that fly its flag meet the following minimum standards:

(a) food and drinking water supplies, having regard to the number of seafarers on board, their religious requirements and cultural practices as they pertain to food, and the duration and nature of the voyage, shall be suitable in respect of quantity, nutritional value, quality and variety;

(b) the organization and equipment of the catering department shall be such as to permit the provision to the seafarers of adequate, varied and nutritious meals prepared and served in hygienic conditions; and

(c) catering staff shall be properly trained or instructed for their positions.

 3. Shipowners shall ensure that seafarers who are engaged as ships’ cooks are trained, qualified and found competent for the position in accordance with requirements set out in the laws and regulations of the Member concerned.

 4. The requirements under paragraph 3 of this Standard shall include a completion of a training course approved or recognized by the competent authority, which covers practical cookery, food and personal hygiene, food storage, stock control, and environmental protection and catering health and safety.

 5. On ships operating with a prescribed manning of less than ten which, by virtue of the size of the crew or the trading pattern, may not be required by the competent authority to carry a fully qualified cook, anyone processing food in the galley shall be trained or instructed in areas including food and personal hygiene as well as handling and storage of food on board ship.

 6. In circumstances of exceptional necessity, the competent authority may issue a dispensation permitting a non-fully qualified cook to serve in a specified ship for a specified limited period, until the next convenient port of call or for a period not exceeding one month, provided that the person to whom the dispensation is issued is trained or instructed in areas including food and personal hygene as well as handling and storage of food on board ship.

7. In accordance with the ongoing compliance procedures under Title 5, the competent authority shall require that frequent documented inspections be carried out on board ships, by or under the authority of the master, with respect to:

(a) supplies of food and drinking water;

(b) all spaces and equipment used for the storage and handling of food and drinking water; and

(c) galley and other equipment for the preparation and service of meals.

 8. No seafarer under the age of 18 shall be employed or engaged or work as a ship’s cook.

Guideline B3.2 - Food and catering

Guideline B3.2.1 - Inspection, education, research and publication

 1. The competent authority should, in cooperation with other relevant agencies and organizations, collect up-to-date information on nutrition and on methods of purchasing, storing, preserving, cooking and serving food, with special reference to the requirements of catering on board a ship.  This information should be made available, free of charge or at reasonable cost, to manufacturers of and traders in ships’ food supplies and equipment, masters, stewards and cooks, and to shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned.  Appropriate forms of publicity, such as manuals, brochures, posters, charts or advertisements in trade journals, should be used for this purpose.

2. The competent authority should issue recommendations to avoid wastage of food, facilitate the maintenance of a proper standard of hygiene, and ensure the maximum practicable convenience in working arrangements.

 3. The competent authority should work with relevant agencies and organizations to develop educational materials and on-board information concerning methods of ensuring proper food supply and catering services.

 4. The competent authority should work in close cooperation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned and with national or local authorities dealing with questions of food and health, and may where necessary utilize the services of such authorities.

Guideline B3.2.2 - Ships’ cooks

 1. Seafarers should only be qualified as ships’ cooks if they have:

(a) served at sea for a minimum period to be prescribed by the competent authority, which could be varied to take into account existing relevant qualifications or experience;

(b) passed an examination prescribed by the competent authority or passed an equivalent examination at an approved training course for cooks.

 2. The prescribed examination may be conducted and certificates granted either directly by the competent authority or, subject to its control, by an approved school for the training of cooks.

 3. The competent authority should provide for the recognition, where appropriate, of certificates of qualification as ships’ cooks issued by other Members, which have ratified this Convention or the Certification of Ships’ Cooks Convention, 1946 (No. 69), or other approved body.

TITLE 4.  HEALTH PROTECTION, MEDICAL CARE, WELFARE
AND SOCIAL SECURITY PROTECTION

Regulation 4.1 — Medical care on board ship and ashore

Purpose:  To protect the health of seafarers and ensure their prompt access to medical care on board ship and ashore

 1. Each Member shall ensure that all seafarers on ships that fly its flag are covered by adequate measures for the protection of their health and that they have access to prompt and adequate medical care whilst working on board.
 2. The protection and care under paragraph 1 of this Regulation shall, in principle, be provided at no cost to the seafarers.

 3. Each Member shall ensure that seafarers on board ships in its territory who are in need of immediate medical care are given access to the Member’s medical facilities on shore.

 4. The requirements for on-board health protection and medical care set out in the Code include standards for measures aimed at providing seafarers with health protection and medical care as comparable as possible to that which is generally available to workers ashore.

Standard A4.1 — Medical care on board ship and ashore

 1. Each Member shall ensure that measures providing for health protection and medical care, including essential dental care, for seafarers working on board a ship that flies its flag are adopted which:

(a) ensure the application to seafarers of any general provisions on occupational health protection and medical care relevant to their duties, as well as of special provisions specific to work on board ship;

(b) ensure that seafarers are given health protection and medical care as comparable as possible to that which is generally available to workers ashore, including prompt access to the necessary medicines, medical equipment and facilities for diagnosis and treatment and to medical information and expertise;

(c) give seafarers the right to visit a qualified medical doctor or dentist without delay in ports of call, where practicable;

(d) ensure that, to the extent consistent with the Member’s national law and practice, medical care and health protection services while a seafarer is on board ship or landed in a foreign port are provided free of charge to seafarers; and

(e) are not limited to treatment of sick or injured seafarers but include measures of a preventive character such as health promotion and health education programmes.

2. The competent authority shall adopt a standard medical report form for use by the ships’ masters and relevant onshore and on-board medical personnel.  The form, when completed, and its contents shall be kept confidential and shall only be used to facilitate the treatment of seafarers.

 3. Each Member shall adopt laws and regulations establishing requirements for on-board hospital and medical care facilities and equipment and training on ships that fly its flag.

4. National laws and regulations shall as a minimum provide for the following requirements:

(a) all ships shall carry a medicine chest, medical equipment and a medical guide, the specifics of which shall be prescribed and subject to regular inspection by the competent authority; the national requirements shall take into account the type of ship, the number of persons on board and the nature, destination and duration of voyages and relevant national and international recommended medical standards;

(b) ships carrying 100 or more persons and ordinarily engaged on international voyages of more than three days’ duration shall carry a qualified medical doctor who is responsible for providing medical care; national laws or regulations shall also specify which other ships shall be required to carry a medical doctor, taking into account, inter alia, such factors as the duration, nature and conditions of the voyage and the number of seafarers on board;

(c) ships which do not carry a medical doctor shall be required to have either at least one seafarer on board who is in charge of medical care and administering medicine as part of their regular duties or at least one seafarer on board competent to provide medical first aid; persons in charge of medical care on board who are not medical doctors shall have satisfactorily completed training in medical care that meets the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (“STCW”); seafarers designated to provide medical first aid shall have satisfactorily completed training in medical first aid that meets the requirements of STCW; national laws or regulations shall specify the level of approved training required taking into account, inter alia, such factors as the duration, nature and conditions of the voyage and the number of seafarers on board; and

(d) the competent authority shall ensure by a prearranged system that medical advice by radio or satellite communication to ships at sea, including specialist advice, is available 24 hours a day; medical advice, including the onward transmission of medical messages by radio or satellite communication between a ship and those ashore giving the advice, shall be available free of charge to all ships irrespective of the flag that they fly.

Guideline B4.1 - Medical care on board ship and ashore

Guideline B4.1.1 - Provision of medical care 

 1. When determining the level of medical training to be provided on board ships that are not required to carry a medical doctor, the competent authority should require that: 

(a) ships which ordinarily are capable of reaching qualified medical care and medical facilities within eight hours should have at least one designated seafarer with the approved medical first-aid training required by STCW which will enable such persons to take immediate, effective action in case of accidents or illnesses likely to occur on board a ship and to make use of medical advice by radio or satellite communication; and

(b) all other ships should have at least one designated seafarer with approved training in medical care required by STCW, including practical training and training in life-saving techniques such as intravenous therapy, which will enable the persons concerned to participate effectively in coordinated schemes for medical assistance to ships at sea, and to provide the sick or injured with a satisfactory standard of medical care during the period they are likely to remain on board.

 2. The training referred to in paragraph 1 of this Guideline should be based on the contents of the most recent editions of the International Medical Guide for Ships, the Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving Dangerous Goods, the Document for Guidance - An International Maritime Training Guide, and the medical section of the International Code of Signals as well as similar national guides.

 3. Persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Guideline and such other seafarers as may be required by the competent authority should undergo, at approximately five-year intervals, refresher courses to enable them to maintain and increase their knowledge and skills and to keep up-to-date with new developments.

 4. The medicine chest and its contents, as well as the medical equipment and medical guide carried on board, should be properly maintained and inspected at regular intervals, not exceeding 12 months, by responsible persons designated by the competent authority, who should ensure that the labelling, expiry dates and conditions of storage of all medicines and directions for their use are checked and all equipment functioning as required. In adopting or reviewing the ship’s medical guide used nationally, and in determining the contents of the medicine chest and medical equipment, the competent authority should take into account international recommendations in this field, including the latest edition of the International Medical Guide for Ships, and other guides mentioned in paragraph 2 of this Guideline.

 5. Where a cargo which is classified dangerous has not been included in the most recent edition of the Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving Dangerous Goods, the necessary information on the nature of the substances, the risks involved, the necessary personal protective devices, the relevant medical procedures and specific antidotes should be made available to the seafarers. Such specific antidotes and personal protective devices should be on board whenever dangerous goods are carried. This information should be integrated with the ship’s policies and programmes on occupational safety and health described in Regulation 4.3 and related Code provisions. 

 6. All ships should carry a complete and up-to-date list of radio stations through which medical advice can be obtained; and, if equipped with a system of satellite communication, carry an up-to-date and complete list of coast earth stations through which medical advice can be obtained. Seafarers with responsibility for medical care or medical first aid on board should be instructed in the use of the ship’s medical guide and the medical section of the most recent edition of the International Code of Signals so as to enable them to understand the type of information needed by the advising doctor as well as the advice received.

Guideline B4.1.2 - Medical report form 

 1. The standard medical report form for seafarers required under Part A of this Code should be designed to facilitate the exchange of medical and related information concerning individual seafarers between ship and shore in cases of illness or injury.

Guideline B4.1.3 - Medical care ashore 

 1. Shore-based medical facilities for treating seafarers should be adequate for the purposes. The doctors, dentists and other medical personnel should be properly qualified. 

 2. Measures should be taken to ensure that seafarers have access when in port to: 

(a) outpatient treatment for sickness and injury; 

(b) hospitalization when necessary; and 

(c) facilities for dental treatment, especially in cases of emergency. 

3. Suitable measures should be taken to facilitate the treatment of seafarers suffering from disease. In particular, seafarers should be promptly admitted to clinics and hospitals ashore, without difficulty and irrespective of nationality or religious belief, and, whenever possible, arrangements should be made to ensure, when necessary, continuation of treatment to supplement the medical facilities available to them.

Guideline B4.1.4 - Medical assistance to other ships
and international cooperation

 1. Each Member should give due consideration to participating in international cooperation in the area of assistance, programmes and research in health protection and medical care. Such cooperation might cover:

(a) developing and coordinating search and rescue efforts and arranging prompt medical help and evacuation at sea for the seriously ill or injured on board a ship through such means as periodic ship position reporting systems, rescue coordination centres and emergency helicopter services, in conformity with the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, as amended, and the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual;

(b) making optimum use of all ships carrying a doctor and stationing ships at sea which can provide hospital and rescue facilities;

(c) compiling and maintaining an international list of doctors and medical care facilities available worldwide to provide emergency medical care to seafarers;

(d) landing seafarers ashore for emergency treatment;

(e) repatriating seafarers hospitalized abroad as soon as practicable, in accordance with the medical advice of the doctors responsible for the case, which takes into account the seafarer’s wishes and needs;

(f) arranging personal assistance for seafarers during repatriation, in accordance with the medical advice of the doctors responsible for the case, which takes into account the seafarer’s wishes and needs;

(g) endeavouring to set up health centres for seafarers to:

 (i) conduct research on the health status, medical treatment and preventive health care of seafarers; and

 (ii) train medical and health service staff in maritime medicine;

(h) collecting and evaluating statistics concerning occupational accidents, diseases and fatalities of seafarers and integrating and harmonizing the statistics with any existing national system of statistics on occupational accidents and diseases covering other categories of workers;

(i) organizing international exchanges of technical information, training material and personnel, as well as international training courses, seminars and working groups;

(j) providing all seafarers with special curative and preventive health and medical services in port, or making available to them general health, medical and rehabilitation services; and

(k) arranging for the repatriation of the bodies or ashes of deceased seafarers, in accordance with the wishes of the next of kin and as soon as practicable.
 2. International cooperation in the field of health protection and medical care for seafarers should be based on bilateral or multilateral agreements or consultations among Members.

Guideline B4.1.5 - Dependants of seafarers

 1. Each Member should adopt measures to secure proper and sufficient medical care for the dependants of seafarers domiciled in its territory pending the development of a medical care service which would include within its scope workers generally and their dependants where such services do not exist and should inform the International Labour Office concerning the measures taken for this purpose.

Regulation 4.2 - Shipowners’ liability

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers are protected from the financial consequences of sickness, injury or death occurring in connection with their employment

 1. Each Member shall ensure that measures, in accordance with the Code, are in place on ships that fly its flag to provide seafarers employed on the ships with a right to material assistance and support from the shipowner with respect to the financial consequences of sickness, injury or death occurring while they are serving under a seafarers’ employment agreement or arising from their employment under such agreement.

 2. This Regulation does not affect any other legal remedies that a seafarer may seek.

Standard A4.2 - Shipowners’ liability

 1. Each Member shall adopt laws and regulations requiring that shipowners of ships that fly its flag are responsible for health protection and medical care of all seafarers working on board the ships in accordance with the following minimum standards:

(a) shipowners shall be liable to bear the costs for seafarers working on their ships in respect of sickness and injury of the seafarers occurring between the date of commencing duty and the date upon which they are deemed duly repatriated, or arising from their employment between those dates;

(b) shipowners shall provide financial security to assure compensation in the event of the death or long-term disability of seafarers due to an occupational injury, illness or hazard, as set out in national law, the seafarers’ employment agreement or collective agreement;

(c) shipowners shall be liable to defray the expense of medical care, including medical treatment and the supply of the necessary medicines and therapeutic appliances, and board and lodging away from home until the sick or injured seafarer has recovered, or until the sickness or incapacity has been declared of a permanent character; and 

(d) shipowners shall be liable to pay the cost of burial expenses in the case of death occurring on board or ashore during the period of engagement.

 2. National laws or regulations may limit the liability of the shipowner to defray the expense of medical care and board and lodging to a period which shall not be less than 16 weeks from the day of the injury or the commencement of the sickness.

 3. Where the sickness or injury results in incapacity for work the shipowner shall be liable: 

(a) to pay full wages as long as the sick or injured seafarers remain on board or until the seafarers have been repatriated in accordance with this Convention; and 

(b) to pay wages in whole or in part as prescribed by national laws or regulations or as provided for in collective agreements from the time when the seafarers are repatriated or landed until their recovery or, if earlier, until they are entitled to cash benefits under the legislation of the Member concerned. 

 4. National laws or regulations may limit the liability of the shipowner to pay wages in whole or in part in respect of a seafarer no longer on board to a period which shall not be less than 16 weeks from the day of the injury or the commencement of the sickness. 

 5. National laws or regulations may exclude the shipowner from liability in respect of: 

(a) injury incurred otherwise than in the service of the ship; 

(b) injury or sickness due to the wilful misconduct of the sick, injured or deceased seafarer; and 

(c) sickness or infirmity intentionally concealed when the engagement is entered into.

 6. National laws or regulations may exempt the shipowner from liability to defray the expense of medical care and board and lodging and burial expenses in so far as such liability is assumed by the public authorities. 

 7. Shipowners or their representatives shall take measures for safeguarding property left on board by sick, injured or deceased seafarers and for returning it to them or to their next of kin.

Guideline B4.2 - Shipowners’ liability

 1. The payment of full wages required by Standard A4.2, paragraph 3(a), may be exclusive of bonuses. 

 2. National laws or regulations may provide that a shipowner shall cease to be liable to bear the costs of a sick or injured seafarer from the time at which that seafarer can claim medical benefits under a scheme of compulsory sickness insurance, compulsory accident insurance or workers’ compensation for accidents. 

 3. National laws or regulations may provide that burial expenses paid by the shipowner shall be reimbursed by an insurance institution in cases in which funeral benefit is payable in respect of the deceased seafarer under laws or regulations relating to social insurance or workers’ compensation.

Regulation 4.3 - Health and safety protection
and accident prevention

Purpose: To ensure that seafarers’ work environment on board ships 
promotes occupational safety and health 

 1. Each Member shall ensure that seafarers on ships that fly its flag are provided with occupational health protection and live, work and train on board ship in a safe and hygienic environment.

2. Each Member shall develop and promulgate national guidelines for the management of occupational safety and health on board ships that fly its flag, after consultation with representative shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations and taking into account applicable codes, guidelines and standards recommended by international organizations, national administrations and maritime industry organizations.

 3. Each Member shall adopt laws and regulations and other measures addressing the matters specified in the Code, taking into account relevant international instruments, and set standards for occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention on ships that fly its flag.

Standard A4.3 - Health and safety protection and accident prevention

 1. The laws and regulations and other measures to be adopted in accordance with Regulation 4.3, paragraph 3, shall include the following subjects: 

(a) the adoption and effective implementation and promotion of occupational safety and health policies and programmes on ships that fly the Member’s flag, including risk evaluation as well as training and instruction of seafarers;

(b) reasonable precautions to prevent occupational accidents, injuries and diseases on board ship, including measures to reduce and prevent the risk of exposure to harmful levels of ambient factors and chemicals as well as the risk of injury or disease that may arise from the use of equipment and machinery on board ships;

(c) on-board programmes for the prevention of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases and for continuous improvement in occupational safety and health protection, involving seafarers’ representatives and all other persons concerned in their implementation, taking account of preventive measures, including engineering and design control, substitution of processes and procedures for collective and individual tasks, and the use of personal protective equipment; and
(d) requirements for inspecting, reporting and correcting unsafe conditions and for investigating and reporting on-board occupational accidents.

 2. The provisions referred to in paragraph 1 of this Standard shall:

(a) take account of relevant international instruments dealing with occupational safety and health protection in general and with specific risks, and address all matters relevant to the prevention of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases that may be applicable to the work of seafarers and particularly those which are specific to maritime employment;

(b) clearly specify the obligation of shipowners, seafarers and others concerned to comply with the applicable standards and with the ship’s occupational safety and health policy and programme with special attention being paid to the safety and health of seafarers under the age of 18;

(c) specify the duties of the master or a person designated by the master, or both, to take specific responsibility for the implementation of and compliance with the ship’s occupational safety and health policy and programme; and

(d) specify the authority of the ship’s seafarers appointed or elected as safety representatives to participate in meetings of the ship’s safety committee.  Such a committee shall be established on board a ship on which there are five or more seafarers.

3. The laws and regulations and other measures referred to in Regulation 4.3, paragraph 3, shall be regularly reviewed in consultation with the representatives of the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations and, if necessary, revised to take account of changes in technology and research in order to facilitate continuous improvement in occupational safety and health policies and programmes and to provide a safe occupational environment for seafarers on ships that fly the Member’s flag.

 4. Compliance with the requirements of applicable international instruments on the acceptable levels of exposure to workplace hazards on board ships and on the development and implementation of ships’ occupational safety and health policies and programmes shall be considered as meeting the requirements of this Convention.

5. The competent authority shall ensure that:

(a) occupational accidents, injuries and diseases are adequately reported, taking into account the guidance provided by the International Labour Organization with respect to the reporting and recording of occupational accidents and diseases;

(b) comprehensive statistics of such accidents and diseases are kept, analysed and published and, where appropriate, followed up by research into general trends and into the hazards identified; and

(c) occupational accidents are investigated.

 6. Reporting and investigation of occupational safety and health matters shall be designed to ensure the protection of seafarers’ personal data, and shall take account of the guidance provided by the International Labour Organization on this matter.

7. The competent authority shall cooperate with shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations to take measures to bring to the attention of all seafarers information concerning particular hazards on board ships, for instance, by posting official notices containing relevant instructions. 

 8. The competent authority shall require that shipowners conducting risk evaluation in relation to management of occupational safety and health refer to appropriate statistical information from their ships and from general statistics provided by the competent authority.

Guideline B4.3 - Health and safety protection
and accident prevention

Guideline B4.3.1 - Provisions on occupational accidents,
injuries and diseases 

 1. The provisions required under Standard A4.3 should take into account the ILO code of practice entitled Accident prevention on board ship at sea and in port, 1996, and subsequent versions and other related ILO and other international standards and guidelines and codes of practice regarding occupational safety and health protection, including any exposure levels that they may identify.

2. The competent authority should ensure that the national guidelines for the management of occupational safety and health address the following matters, in particular:

(a) general and basic provisions;

(b) structural features of the ship, including means of access and asbestos-related risks;
(c) machinery;

(d) the effects of the extremely low or high temperature of any surfaces with which seafarers may be in contact;

(e) the effects of noise in the workplace and in shipboard accommodation;

(f) the effects of vibration in the workplace and in shipboard  accommodation;

(g) the effects of ambient factors, other than those referred to in subparagraphs (e) and (f), in the workplace and in shipboard accommodation, including tobacco smoke;

(h) special safety measures on and below deck;

(i) loading and unloading equipment;

(j) fire prevention and fire-fighting;

(k) anchors, chains and lines;

(1) dangerous cargo and ballast; 

(m) personal protective equipment for seafarers;

(n) work in enclosed spaces;

(o) physical and mental effects of fatigue;

(p) the effects of drug and alcohol dependency;

(q) HIV/AIDS protection and prevention; and

(r) emergency and accident response.

3. The assessment of risks and reduction of exposure on the matters referred to in paragraph 2 of this Guideline should take account of the physical occupational health effects, including manual handling of loads, noise and vibration, the chemical and biological occupational health effects, the mental occupational health effects, the physical and mental health effects of fatigue, and occupational accidents.  The necessary measures should take due account of the preventive principle according to which, among other things, combating risk at the source, adapting work to the individual, especially as regards the design of workplaces, and replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or the less dangerous, have precedence over personal protective equipment for seafarers.

4. In addition, the competent authority should ensure that the implications for health and safety are taken into account, particularly in the following areas:

(a) emergency and accident response;

(b) the effects of drug and alcohol dependency; and

(c) HIV/AIDS protection and prevention.

Guideline B4.3.2 - Exposure to noise

 1. The competent authority, in conjunction with the competent international bodies and with representatives of shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, should review on an ongoing basis the problem of noise on board ships with the objective of improving the protection of seafarers, in so far as practicable, from the adverse effects of exposure to noise.

 2. The review referred to in paragraph 1 of this Guideline should take account of the adverse effects of exposure to excessive noise on the hearing, health and comfort of seafarers and the measures to be prescribed or recommended to reduce shipboard noise to protect seafarers.  The measures to be considered should include the following:

(a) instruction of seafarers in the dangers to hearing and health of prolonged exposure to high noise levels and in the proper use of noise protection devices and equipment;

(b) provision of approved hearing protection equipment to seafarers where necessary; and

(c) assessment of risk and reduction of exposure levels to noise in all accommodation and recreational and catering facilities, as well as engine rooms and other machinery spaces.

Guideline B4.3.3 - Exposure to vibration

 1. The competent authority, in conjunction with the competent international bodies and with representatives of shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, and taking into account, as appropriate, relevant international standards, should review on an ongoing basis the problem of vibration on board ships with the objective of improving the protection of seafarers, in so far as practicable, from the adverse effects of vibration.

 2. The review referred to in paragraph 1 of this Guideline should cover the effect of exposure to excessive vibration on the health and comfort of seafarers and the measures to be prescribed or recommended to reduce shipboard vibration to protect seafarers.  The measures to be considered should include the following:

(a) instruction of seafarers in the dangers to their health of prolonged exposure to vibration;

(b) provision of approved personal protective equipment to seafarers where necessary; and

(c) assessment of risks and reduction of exposure to vibration in all accommodation and recreational and catering facilities by adopting measures in accordance with the guidance provided by the ILO code of practice entitled Ambient factors in the workplace, 2001, and any subsequent revisions, taking account of the difference between exposure in those areas and in the workplace.

Guideline B4.3.4 - Obligations of shipowners

 1. Any obligation on the shipowner to provide protective equipment or other accident prevention safeguards should, in general, be accompanied by provisions requiring their use by seafarers and by a requirement for seafarers to comply with the relevant accident prevention and health protection measures.

 2. Account should also be taken of Articles 7 and 11 of the Guarding of Machinery Convention, 1963 (No. 119), and the corresponding provisions of the Guarding of Machinery Recommendation, 1963 No. 118), under which the obligation to ensure compliance with the requirement that machinery in use is properly guarded, and its use without appropriate guards prevented, rests on the employer, while there is an obligation on the worker not to use machinery without the guards being in position nor to make inoperative the guards provided.

Guideline B4.3.5 - Reporting and collection
of statistics

 1. All occupational accidents and occupational injuries and diseases should be reported so that they can be investigated and comprehensive statistics can be kept, analysed and published, taking account of protection of the personal data of the seafarers concerned.  Reports should not be limited to fatalities or to accidents involving the ship.

 2. The statistics referred to in paragraph 1 of this Guideline should record the numbers, nature, causes and effects of occupational accidents and occupational injuries and diseases, with a clear indication, as applicable, of the department on board a ship, the type of accident and whether at sea or in port.

 3. Each Member should have due regard to any international system or model for recording accidents to seafarers which may have been established by the International Labour Organization.

Guideline B4.3.6 - Investigations
 1. The competent authority should undertake investigations into the causes and circumstances of all occupational accidents and occupational injuries and diseases resulting in loss of life or serious personal injury, and such other cases as may be specified in national laws or regulations.

 2. Consideration should be given to including the following as subjects of investigation:

(a) working environment, such as working surfaces, layout of machinery, means of access, lighting and methods of work;

(b) incidence in different age groups of occupational accidents and occupational injuries and diseases;

(c) special physiological or psychological problems created by the shipboard environment;

(d) problems arising from physical stress on board a ship, in particular as a consequence of increased workload;

(e) problems arising from and effects of technical developments and their influence on the composition of crews; and

(f) problems arising from any human failures.

Guideline B4.3.7 - National protection and prevention programmes

 1. In order to provide a sound basis for measures to promote occupational safety and health protection and prevention of accidents, injuries and diseases which are due to particular hazards of maritime employment, research should be undertaken into general trends and into such hazards as are revealed by statistics.

 2. The implementation of protection and prevention programmes for the promotion of occupational safety and health should be so organized that the competent authority, shipowners and seafarers or their representatives and other appropriate bodies may play an active role, including through such means as information sessions, on-board guidelines on maximum exposure levels to potentially harmful ambient workplace factors and other hazards or outcomes of a systematic risk evaluation process.  In particular, national or local joint occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention committees or ad hoc working parties and on-board committees, on which shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned are represented, should be established.

 3. Where such activity takes place at company level, the representation of seafarers on any safety committee on board that shipowner’s ships should be considered.

Guideline B4.3.8 - Content of protection and prevention programmes

 1. Consideration should be given to including the following in the functions of the committees and other bodies referred to in Guideline B4.3.7, paragraph 2:

(a) the preparation of national guidelines and policies for occupational safety and health management systems and for accident prevention provisions, rules and manuals;

(b) the organization of occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention training and programmes;

(c) the organization of publicity on occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention, including films, posters, notices and brochures; and

(d) the distribution of literature and information on occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention so that it reaches seafarers on board ships.

 2. Relevant provisions or recommendations adopted by the appropriate national authorities or organizations or international organizations should be taken into account by those preparing texts of occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention measures or recommended practices.

 3. In formulating occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention programmes, each Member should have due regard to any code of practice concerning the safety and health of seafarers which may have been published by the International Labour Organization.

Guideline B4.3.9 — Instruction in occupational safety and health protection and the prevention of occupational accidents 

 1. The curriculum for the training referred to in Standard A4.3, paragraph 1(a), should be reviewed periodically and brought up to date in the light of development in types and sizes of ships and in their equipment, as well as changes in manning practices, nationality, language and the organization of work on board ships.

 2. There should be continuous occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention publicity.  Such publicity might take the following forms:

(a) educational audiovisual material, such as films, for use in vocational training centres for seafarers and where possible shown on board ships; 

(b) display of posters on board ships; 

(c) inclusion in periodicals read by seafarers of articles on the hazards of maritime employment and on occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention measures; and 

(d) special campaigns using various publicity media to instruct seafarers, including campaigns on safe working practices. 

 3. The publicity referred to in paragraph 2 of this Guideline should take account of the different nationalities, languages and cultures of seafarers on board ships.

Guideline B4.3.10 — Safety and health education of young seafarers 

 1. Safety and health regulations should refer to any general provisions on medical examinations before and during employment and on the prevention of accidents and the protection of health in employment, which may be applicable to the work of seafarers.  Such regulations should specify measures which will minimize occupational dangers to young seafarers in the course of their duties.

 2. Except where a young seafarer is recognized as fully qualified in a pertinent skill by the competent authority, the regulations should specify restrictions on young seafarers undertaking, without appropriate supervision and instruction, certain types of work presenting special risk of accident or of detrimental effect on their health or physical development, or requiring a particular degree of maturity, experience or skill.  In determining the types of work to be restricted by the regulations, the competent authority might consider in particular work involving: 

(a) the lifting, moving or carrying of heavy loads or objects; 
(b) entry into boilers, tanks and cofferdams; 
(c) exposure to harmful noise and vibration levels; 
(d) operating hoisting and other power machinery and tools, or acting as signallers to operators of such equipment; 
(e) handling mooring or tow lines or anchoring equipment;
(f) rigging;
(g) work aloft or on deck in heavy weather; 
(h) nightwatch duties; 
(i) servicing of electrical equipment; 
(j) exposure to potentially harmful materials, or harmful physical agents such as dangerous or toxic substances and ionizing radiations;
(k) the cleaning of catering machinery; and 
(1) the handling or taking charge of ships’ boats. 

 3. Practical measures should be taken by the competent authority or through the appropriate machinery to bring to the attention of young seafarers information concerning the prevention of accidents and the protection of their health on board ships.  Such measures could include adequate instruction in courses, official accident prevention publicity intended for young persons and professional instruction and supervision of young seafarers. 

 4. Education and training of young seafarers both ashore and on board ships should include guidance on the detrimental effects on their health and well-being of the abuse of alcohol and drugs and other potentially harmful substances, and the risk and concerns relating to HIV/AIDS and of other health risk related activities.

Guideline B4.3.11 — International cooperation 

 1. Members, with the assistance as appropriate of intergovernmental and other international organizations, should endeavour, in cooperation with each other, to achieve the greatest possible uniformity of action for the promotion of occupational safety and health protection and prevention of accidents. 

 2. In developing programmes for promoting occupational safety and health protection and prevention of accidents under Standard A4.3, each Member should have due regard to relevant codes of practice published by the International Labour Organization and the appropriate standards of international organizations.

3. Members should have regard to the need for international cooperation in the continuous promotion of activity related to occupational safety and health protection and prevention of occupational accidents.  Such cooperation might take the form of:

(a) bilateral or multilateral arrangements for uniformity in occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention standards and safeguards;

(b) exchange of information on particular hazards affecting seafarers and on means of promoting occupational safety and health protection and preventing accidents;

(c) assistance in testing of equipment and inspection according to the national regulations of the flag State;

(d) collaboration in the preparation and dissemination of occupational safety and health protection and accident prevention provisions, rules or manuals;

(e) collaboration in the production and use of training aids; and 

(f) joint facilities for, or mutual assistance in, the training of seafarers in occupational safety and health protection, accident prevention and safe working practices.

Regulation 4.4 — Access to shore-based welfare facilities

Purpose:  To ensure that seafarers working on board a ship have access to shore-based facilities and services to secure their health and well-being 

 1. Each Member shall ensure that shore-based welfare facilities, where they exist, are easily accessible.  The Member shall also promote the development of welfare facilities, such as those listed in the Code, in designated ports to provide seafarers on ships that are in its ports with access to adequate welfare facilities and services.

 2. The responsibilities of each Member with respect to shore-based facilities, such as welfare, cultural, recreational and information facilities and services, are set out in the Code.

Standard A4.4 — Access to shore-based welfare facilities

 1. Each Member shall require, where welfare facilities exist on its territory, that they are available for the use of all seafarers, irrespective of nationality, race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion or social origin and irrespective of the flag State of the ship on which they are employed or engaged or work.

 2. Each Member shall promote the development of welfare facilities in appropriate ports of the country and determine, after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, which ports are to be regarded as appropriate. 

 3. Each Member shall encourage the establishment of welfare boards which shall regularly review welfare facilities and services to ensure that they are appropriate in the light of changes in the needs of seafarers resulting from technical, operational and other developments in the shipping industry.

Guideline B4.4 — Access to shore-based welfare facilities

Guideline B4.4.1 — Responsibilities of Members 

 1. Each Member should:

(a) take measures to ensure that adequate welfare facilities and services are provided for seafarers in designated ports of call and that adequate protection is provided to seafarers in the exercise of their profession; and 

(b) take into account, in the implementation of these measures, the special needs of seafarers, especially when in foreign countries and when entering war zones, in respect of their safety, health and spare-time activities. 

2. Arrangements for the supervision of welfare facilities and services should include participation by representative shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned.

 3. Each Member should take measures designed to expedite the free circulation among ships, central supply agencies and welfare establishments of welfare materials such as films, books, newspapers and sports equipment for use by seafarers on board their ships and in welfare centres ashore.

4. Members should cooperate with one another in promoting the welfare of seafarers at sea and in port.  Such cooperation should include the following:

(a) consultations among competent authorities aimed at the provision and improvement of seafarers’ welfare facilities and services, both in port and on board ships;

(b) agreements on the pooling of resources and the joint provision of welfare facilities in major ports so as to avoid unnecessary duplication;

(c) organization of international sports competitions and encouragement of the participation of seafarers in sports activities; and 

(d) organization of international seminars on the subject of welfare of seafarers at sea and in port.

Guideline B4.4.2 — Welfare facilities and services in ports 

 1. Each Member should provide or ensure the provision of such welfare facilities and services as may be required, in appropriate ports of the country. 

 2. Welfare facilities and services should be provided, in accordance with national conditions and practice, by one or more of the following:

(a) public authorities; 

(b) shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned under collective agreements or other agreed arrangements; and 

(c) voluntary organizations. 

3. Necessary welfare and recreational facilities should be established or developed in ports.  These should include: 

(a) meeting and recreation rooms as required; 

(b) facilities for sports and outdoor facilities, including competitions;

(c) educational facilities; and 

(d) where appropriate, facilities for religious observances and for personal counselling.

 4. These facilities may be provided by making available to seafarers in accordance with their needs facilities designed for more general use. 

 5. Where large numbers of seafarers of different nationalities require facilities such as hotels, clubs and sports facilities in a particular port, the competent authorities or bodies of the countries of origin of the seafarers and of the flag States, as well as the international associations concerned, should consult and cooperate with the competent authorities and bodies of the country in which the port is situated and with one another, with a view to the pooling of resources and to avoiding unnecessary duplication.

 6. Hotels or hostels suitable for seafarers should be available where there is need for them. They should provide facilities equal to those found in a good-class hotel, and should wherever possible be located in good surroundings away from the immediate vicinity of the docks. Such hotels or hostels should be properly supervised, the prices charged should be reasonable in amount and, where necessary and possible, provision should be made for accommodating seafarers’ families.

 7. These accommodation facilities should be open to all seafarers, irrespective of nationality, race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion or social origin and irrespective of the flag State of the ship on which they are employed or engaged or work. Without in any way infringing this principle, it may be necessary in certain ports to provide several types of facilities, comparable in standard but adapted to the customs and needs of different groups of seafarers.

 8. Measures should be taken to ensure that, as necessary, technically competent persons are employed full time in the operation of seafarers’ welfare facilities and services, in addition to any voluntary workers.

Guideline B4.4.3 - Welfare boards 

 1. Welfare boards should be established, at the port, regional and national levels, as appropriate. Their functions should include: 

(a) keeping under review the adequacy of existing welfare facilities and monitoring the need for the provision of additional facilities or the withdrawal of underutilized facilities; and 

(b) assisting and advising those responsible for providing welfare facilities and ensuring coordination between them. 

 2. Welfare boards should include among their members representatives of shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations, the competent authorities and, where appropriate, voluntary organizations and social bodies. 

 3. As appropriate, consuls of maritime States and local representatives of foreign welfare organizations should, in accordance with national laws and regulations, be associated with the work of port, regional and national welfare boards.

Guideline B4.4.4 - Financing of welfare facilities 

 1. In accordance with national conditions and practice, financial support for port welfare facilities should be made available through one or more of the following:

(a) grants from public funds;

(b) levies or other special dues from shipping sources;

(c) voluntary contributions from shipowners, seafarers, or their organizations; and

(d) voluntary contributions from other sources.

 2. Where welfare taxes, levies and special dues are imposed, they should be used only for the purposes for which they are raised.

Guideline B4.4.5 - Dissemination of information and facilitation measures 

 1. Information should be disseminated among seafarers concerning facilities open to the general public in ports of call, particularly transport, welfare, entertainment and educational facilities and places of worship, as well as facilities provided specifically for seafarers. 

 2. Adequate means of transport at moderate prices should be available at any reasonable time in order to enable seafarers to reach urban areas from convenient locations in the port. 

 3. All suitable measures should be taken by the competent authorities to make known to shipowners and to seafarers entering port any special laws and customs, the contravention of which may jeopardize their freedom. 

 4. Port areas and access roads should be provided by the competent authorities with adequate lighting and signposting and regular patrols for the protection of seafarers.

Guideline B4.4.6 - Seafarers in a foreign port 

 1. For the protection of seafarers in foreign ports, measures should be taken to facilitate: 

(a) access to consuls of their State of nationality or State of residence; and 

(b) effective cooperation between consuls and the local or national authorities. 

 2. Seafarers who are detained in a foreign port should be dealt with promptly under due process of law and with appropriate consular protection.

 3. Whenever a seafarer is detained for any reason in the territory of a Member, the competent authority should, if the seafarer so requests, immediately inform the flag State and the State of nationality of the seafarer. The competent authority should promptly inform the seafarer of the right to make such a request. The State of nationality of the seafarer should promptly notify the seafarer’s next of kin. The competent authority should allow consular officers of these States immediate access to the seafarer and regular visits thereafter so long as the seafarer is detained.

 4. Each Member should take measures, whenever necessary, to ensure the safety of seafarers from aggression and other unlawful acts while ships are in their territorial waters and especially in approaches to ports. 

 5. Every effort should be made by those responsible in port and on board a ship to facilitate shore leave for seafarers as soon as possible after a ship’s arrival in port.

Regulation 4.5 - Social security

Purpose:  To ensure that measures are taken with a view to providing seafarers with access to social security protection

 1. Each Member shall ensure that all seafarers and, to the extent provided for in its national law, their dependants have access to social security protection in accordance with the Code without prejudice however to any more favourable conditions referred to in paragraph 8 of article 19 of the Constitution.

 2. Each Member undertakes to take steps, according to its national circumstances, individually and through international cooperation, to achieve progressively comprehensive social security protection for seafarers.

 3. Each Member shall ensure that seafarers who are subject to its social security legislation, and, to the extent provided for in its national law, their dependants, are entitled to benefit from social security protection no less favourable than that enjoyed by shoreworkers.

Standard A4.5 - Social security

 1. The branches to be considered with a view to achieving progressively comprehensive social security protection under Regulation 4.5 are:  medical care, sickness benefit, unemployment benefit, old-age benefit, employment injury benefit, family benefit, maternity benefit, invalidity benefit and survivors’ benefit, complementing the protection provided for under Regulations 4.1, on medical care, and 4.2, on shipowners’ liability, and under other titles of this Convention.

 2. At the time of ratification, the protection to be provided by each Member in accordance with Regulation 4.5, paragraph 1, shall include at least three of the nine branches listed in paragraph 1 of this Standard.

3. Each Member shall take steps according to its national circumstances to provide the complementary social security protection referred to in paragraph 1 of this Standard to all seafarers ordinarily resident in its territory.  This responsibility could be satisfied, for example, through appropriate bilateral or multilateral agreements or contribution-based systems.  The resulting protection shall be no less favourable than that enjoyed by shoreworkers resident in their territory.

 4. Notwithstanding the attribution of responsibilities in paragraph 3 of this Standard, Members may determine, through bilateral and multilateral agreements and through provisions adopted in the framework of regional economic integration organizations, other rules concerning the social security legislation to which seafarers are subject.

 5. Each Member’s responsibilities with respect to seafarers on ships that fly its flag shall include those provided for by Regulations 4.1 and 4.2 and the related provisions of the Code, as well as those that are inherent in its general obligations under international law.

 6. Each Member shall give consideration to the various ways in which comparable benefits will, in accordance with national law and practice, be provided to seafarers in the absence of adequate coverage in the branches referred to in paragraph 1 of this Standard.

 7. The protection under Regulation 4.5, paragraph 1, may, as appropriate, be contained in laws or regulations, in private schemes or in collective bargaining agreements or in a combination of these.

 8. To the extent consistent with their national law and practice, Members shall cooperate, through bilateral or multilateral agreements or other arrangements, to ensure the maintenance of social security rights, provided through contributory or non-contributory schemes, which have been acquired, or are in the course of acquisition, by all seafarers regardless of residence.

 9. Each Member shall establish fair and effective procedures for the settlement of disputes.

10. Each Member shall at the time of ratification specify the branches for which protection is provided in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Standard.  It shall subsequently notify the Director-General of the International Labour Office when it provides social security protection in respect of one or more other branches stated in paragraph 1 of this Standard.  The Director-General shall maintain a register of this information and shall make it available to all interested parties.

 11. The reports to the International Labour Office pursuant to article 22 of the Constitution, shall also include information regarding steps taken in accordance with Regulation 4.5, paragraph 2, to extend protection to other branches.

Guideline B4.5 - Social security

 1. The protection to be provided at the time of ratification in accordance with Standard A4.5, paragraph 2, should at least include the branches of medical care, sickness benefit and employment injury benefit.

 2. In the circumstances referred to in Standard A4.5, paragraph 6, comparable benefits may be provided through insurance, bilateral and multilateral agreements or other effective means, taking into consideration the provisions of relevant collective bargaining agreements.  Where such measures are adopted, seafarers covered by such measures should be advised of the means by which the various branches of social security protection will be provided.

3. Where seafarers are subject to more than one national legislation covering social security, the Members concerned should cooperate in order to determine by mutual agreement which legislation is to apply, taking into account such factors as the type and level of protection under the respective legislations which is more favourable to the seafarer concerned as well as the seafarer’s preference.

 4. The procedures to be established under Standard A4.5, paragraph 9, should be designed to cover all disputes relevant to the claims of the seafarers concerned, irrespective of the manner in which the coverage is provided.

 5. Each Member which has national seafarers, non-national seafarers or both serving on ships that fly its flag should provide the social security protection in the Convention as applicable, and should periodically review the branches of social security protection in Standard A4.5, paragraph 1, with a view to identifying any additional branches appropriate for the seafarers concerned.

6. The seafarers’ employment agreement should identify the means by which the various branches of social security protection will be provided to the seafarer by the shipowner as well as any other relevant information at the disposal of the shipowner, such as statutory deductions from the seafarers’ wages and shipowners’ contributions which may be made in accordance with the requirements of identified authorized bodies pursuant to relevant national social security schemes.

7. The Member whose flag the ship flies should, in effectively exercising its jurisdiction over social matters, satisfy itself that the shipowners’ responsibilities concerning social security protection are met, including making the required contributions to social security schemes.

TITLE 5. COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

 1. The Regulations in this Title specify each Member’s responsibility to fully implement and enforce the principles and rights set out in the Articles of this Convention as well as the particular obligations provided for under its Titles 1, 2, 3 and 4.

 2. Paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article VI, which permit the implementation of Part A of the Code through substantially equivalent provisions, do not apply to Part A of the Code in this Title. 

 3. In accordance with paragraph 2 of Article VI, each Member shall implement its responsibilities under the Regulations in the manner set out in the corresponding Standards of Part A of the Code, giving due consideration to the corresponding Guidelines in Part B of the Code. 

 4. The provisions of this Title shall be implemented bearing in mind that seafarers and shipowners, like all other persons, are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law and shall not be subject to discrimination in their access to courts, tribunals or other dispute resolution mechanisms. The provisions of this Title do not determine legal jurisdiction or a legal venue.

Regulation 5.1 - Flag State responsibilities

Purpose:  To ensure that each Member implements its responsibilities 
under this Convention with respect to ships that fly its flag

Regulation 5.1.1 - General principles 

 1. Each Member is responsible for ensuring implementation of its obligations under this Convention on ships that fly its flag. 

 2. Each Member shall establish an effective system for the inspection and certification of maritime labour conditions, in accordance with Regulations 5.1.3 and 5.1.4 ensuring that the working and living conditions for seafarers on ships that fly its flag meet, and continue to meet, the standards in this Convention.

3. In establishing an effective system for the inspection and certification of maritime labour conditions, a Member may, where appropriate, authorize public institutions or other organizations (including those of another Member, if the latter agrees) which it recognizes as competent and independent to carry out inspections or to issue certificates or to do both. In all cases, the Member shall remain fully responsible for the inspection and certification of the working and living conditions of the seafarers concerned on ships that fly its flag. 

 4. A maritime labour certificate, complemented by a declaration of maritime labour compliance, shall constitute prima facie evidence that the ship has been duly inspected by the Member whose flag it flies and that the requirements of this Convention relating to working and living conditions of the seafarers have been met to the extent so certified.

 5. Information about the system referred to in paragraph 2 of this Regulation, including the method used for assessing its effectiveness, shall be included in the Member’s reports to the International Labour Office pursuant to article 22 of the Constitution.

Standard A5.1.1 - General principles 

 1. Each Member shall establish clear objectives and standards covering the administration of its inspection and certification systems, as well as adequate overall procedures for its assessment of the extent to which those objectives and standards are being attained. 

 2. Each Member shall require all ships that fly its flag to have a copy of this Convention available on board.

Guideline 5.1.1 - General principles 

 1. The competent authority should make appropriate arrangements to promote effective cooperation between public institutions and other organizations, referred to in Regulations 5.1.1 and 5.1.2, concerned with seafarers’ shipboard working and living conditions. 

 2. In order to better ensure cooperation between inspectors and shipowners, seafarers and their respective organizations, and to maintain or improve seafarers’ working and living conditions, the competent authority should consult the representatives of such organizations at regular intervals as to the best means of attaining these ends. The manner of such consultation should be determined by the competent authority after consulting with shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations.

Regulation 5.1.2 - Authorization of recognized organizations 

 1. The public institutions or other organizations referred to in paragraph 3 of Regulation 5.1.1 (“recognized organizations”) shall have been recognized by the competent authority as meeting the requirements in the Code regarding competency and independence. The inspection or certification functions which the recognized organizations may be authorized to carry out shall come within the scope of the activities that are expressly mentioned in the Code as being carried out by the competent authority or a recognized organization. 

 2. The reports referred to in paragraph 5 of Regulation 5.1.1 shall contain information regarding any recognized organization, the extent of authorizations given and the arrangements made by the Member to ensure that the authorized activities are carried out completely and effectively.

Standard A5.1.2 - Authorization of recognized organizations

 1. For the purpose of recognition in accordance with paragraph 1 of Regulation 5.1.2, the competent authority shall review the competency and independence of the organization concerned and determine whether the organization has demonstrated, to the extent necessary for carrying out the activities covered by the authorization conferred on it, that the organization:

(a) has the necessary expertise in the relevant aspects of this Convention and an appropriate knowledge of ship operations, including the minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship, conditions of employment, accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering, accident prevention, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection;

(b) has the ability to maintain and update the expertise of its personnel;

(c) has the necessary knowledge of the requirements of this Convention as well as of applicable national laws and regulations and relevant international instruments; and

(d) is of the appropriate size, structure, experience and capability commensurate with the type and degree of authorization.

2. Any authorizations granted with respect to inspections shall, as a minimum, empower the recognized organization to require the rectification of deficiencies that it identifies in seafarers’ working and living conditions and to carry out inspections in this regard at the request of a port State.

 3. Each Member shall establish:

(a) a system to ensure the adequacy of work performed by recognized organizations, which includes information on all applicable national laws and regulations and relevant international instruments; and

(b) procedures for communication with and oversight of such organizations.

4. Each Member shall provide the International Labour Office with a current list of any recognized organizations authorized to act on its behalf and it shall keep this list up to date.  The list shall specify the functions that the recognized organizations have been authorized to carry out.  The Office shall make the list publicly available.

Guideline B5.1.2 - Authorization of recognized organizations

 1. The organization seeking recognition should demonstrate the technical, administrative and managerial competence and capacity to ensure the provision of timely service of satisfactory quality.

 2. In evaluating the capability of an organization, the competent authority should determine whether the organization:

 (a) has adequate technical, managerial and support staff;

(b) has sufficient qualified professional staff to provide the required service, representing an adequate geographical coverage;

(c) has proven ability to provide a timely service of satisfactory quality; and

(d) is independent and accountable in its operations.

3. The competent authority should conclude a written agreement with any organization that it recognizes for purposes of an authorization.  The agreement should include the following elements:

(a) scope of application;

(b) purpose;

(c) general conditions;

(d) the execution of functions under authorization;

(e) legal basis of the functions under authorization;

(f) reporting to the competent authority;

(g) specification of the authorization from the competent authority to the recognized organization; and

(h) the competent authority’s supervision of activities delegated to the recognized organization.

4. Each Member should require the recognized organizations to develop a system for qualification of staff employed by them as inspectors to ensure the timely updating of their knowledge and expertise.
 5. Each Member should require the recognized organizations to maintain records of the services performed by them such that they are able to demonstrate achievement of the required standards in the items covered by the services.
6. In establishing the oversight procedures referred to in Standard A5.1.2, paragraph 3(b), each Member should take into account the Guidelines for the Authorization of Organizations Acting on Behalf of the Administration, adopted in the framework of the International Maritime Organization.

Regulation 5.1.3 - Maritime labour certificate and declaration 
of maritime labour compliance

 1. This Regulation applies to ships of:

(a) 500 gross tonnage or over, engaged in international voyages; and

(b) 500 gross tonnage or over, flying the flag of a Member and operating from a port, or between ports, in another country.

For the purpose of this Regulation, “international voyage” means a voyage from a country to a port outside such a country.

 2. This Regulation also applies to any ship that flies the flag of a Member and is not covered by paragraph 1 of this Regulation, at the request of the shipowner to the Member concerned.

3. Each Member shall require ships that fly its flag to carry and maintain a maritime labour certificate certifying that the working and living conditions of seafarers on the ship, including measures for ongoing compliance to be included in the declaration of maritime labour compliance referred to in paragraph 4 of this Regulation, have been inspected and meet the requirements of national laws or regulations or other measures implementing this Convention.

 4. Each Member shall require ships that fly its flag to carry and maintain a declaration of maritime labour compliance stating the national requirements implementing this Convention for the working and living conditions for seafarers and setting out the measures adopted by the shipowner to ensure compliance with the requirements on the ship or ships concerned.

5. The maritime labour certificate and the declaration of maritime labour compliance shall conform to the model prescribed by the Code. 

 6. Where the competent authority of the Member or a recognized organization duly authorized for this purpose has ascertained through inspection that a ship that flies the Member’s flag meets or continues to meet the standards of this Convention, it shall issue or renew a maritime labour certificate to that effect and maintain a publicly available record of that certificate. 

 7. Detailed requirements for the maritime labour certificate and the declaration of maritime labour compliance, including a list of the matters that must be inspected and approved, are set out in Part A of the Code.

Standard A5.1.3 -- Maritime labour certificate and declaration of maritime labour compliance 

 1. The maritime labour certificate shall be issued to a ship by the competent authority, or by a recognized organization duly authorized for this purpose, for a period which shall not exceed five years.  A list of matters that must be inspected and found to meet national laws and regulations or other measures implementing the requirements of this Convention regarding the working and living conditions of seafarers on ships before a maritime labour certificate can be issued is found in Appendix A5-I.

2. The validity of the maritime labour certificate shall be subject to an intermediate inspection by the competent authority, or by a recognized organization duly authorized for this purpose, to ensure continuing compliance with the national requirements implementing this Convention.  If only one intermediate inspection is carried out and the period of validity of the certificate is five years, it shall take place between the second and third anniversary dates of the certificate.  Anniversary date means the day and month of each year which will correspond to the date of expiry of the maritime labour certificate.  The scope and depth of the intermediate inspection shall be equal to an inspection for renewal of the certificate.  The certificate shall be endorsed following satisfactory intermediate inspection.

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Standard, when the renewal inspection has been completed within three months before the expiry of the existing maritime labour certificate, the new maritime labour certificate shall be valid from the date of completion of the renewal inspection for a period not exceeding five years from the date of expiry of the existing certificate. 

 4. When the renewal inspection is completed more than three months before the expiry date of the existing maritime labour certificate, the new maritime labour certificate shall be valid for a period not exceeding five years starting from the date of completion of the renewal inspection.

5. A maritime labour certificate may be issued on an interim basis: 

(a) to new ships on delivery; 

(b) when a ship changes flag; or 

(c) when a shipowner assumes responsibility for the operation of a ship which is new to that shipowner. 

 6. An interim maritime labour certificate may be issued for a period not exceeding six months by the competent authority or a recognized organization duly authorized for this purpose. 

7. An interim maritime labour certificate may only be issued following verification that: 

(a) the ship has been inspected, as far as reasonable and practicable, for the matters listed in Appendix A5-I, taking into account verification of items under subparagraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this paragraph; 

(b) the shipowner has demonstrated to the competent authority or recognized organization that the ship has adequate procedures to comply with this Convention;

(c) the master is familiar with the requirements of this Convention and the responsibilities for implementation; and 

(d) relevant information has been submitted to the competent authority or recognized organization to produce a declaration of maritime labour compliance.

8. A full inspection in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Standard shall be carried out prior to expiry of the interim certificate to enable issue of the full-term maritime labour certificate.  No further interim certificate may be issued following the initial six months referred to in paragraph 6 of this Standard.  A declaration of maritime labour compliance need not be issued for the period of validity of the interim certificate.

 9. The maritime labour certificate, the interim maritime labour certificate and the declaration of maritime labour compliance shall be drawn up in the form corresponding to the models given in Appendix A5-II. 

10. The declaration of maritime labour compliance shall be attached to the maritime labour certificate.  It shall have two parts: 

(a) Part I shall be drawn up by the competent authority which shall:  (i) identify the list of matters to be inspected in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Standard; (ii) identify the national requirements embodying the relevant provisions of this Convention by providing a reference to the relevant national legal provisions as well as, to the extent necessary, concise information on the main content of the national requirements; (iii) refer to ship-type specific requirements under national legislation; (iv) record any substantially equivalent provisions adopted pursuant to paragraph 3 of Article VI; and (v) clearly indicate any exemption granted by the competent authority as provided in Title 3; and

(b) Part II shall be drawn up by the shipowner and shall identify the measures adopted to ensure ongoing compliance with the national requirements between inspections and the measures proposed to ensure that there is continuous improvement. 
The competent authority or recognized organization duly authorized for this purpose shall certify Part II and shall issue the declaration of maritime labour compliance. 

11. The results of all subsequent inspections or other verifications carried out with respect to the ship concerned and any significant deficiencies found during any such verification shall be recorded, together with the date when the deficiencies were found to have been remedied. This record, accompanied by an English-language translation where it is not in English, shall, in accordance with national laws or regulations, be inscribed upon or appended to the declaration of maritime labour compliance or made available in some other way to seafarers, flag State inspectors, authorized officers in port States and shipowners’ and seafarers’ representatives.

12. A current valid maritime labour certificate and declaration of maritime labour compliance, accompanied by an English-language translation where it is not in English, shall be carried on the ship and a copy shall be posted in a conspicuous place on board where it is available to the seafarers. A copy shall be made available in accordance with national laws and regulations, upon request, to seafarers, flag State inspectors, authorized officers in port States, and shipowners’ and seafarers’ representatives.

13. The requirement for an English-language translation in paragraphs 11 and 12 of this Standard does not apply in the case of a ship not engaged in an international voyage.

 14. A certificate issued under paragraph 1 or 5 of this Standard shall cease to be valid in any of the following cases: 

(a) if the relevant inspections are not completed within the periods specified under paragraph 2 of this Standard; 

(b) if the certificate is not endorsed in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Standard; 

(c) when a ship changes flag; 

(d) when a shipowner ceases to assume the responsibility for the operation of a ship; and 

(e) when substantial changes have been made to the structure or equipment covered in Title 3. 

15. In the case referred to in paragraph 14(c), (d) or (e) of this Standard, a new certificate shall only be issued when the competent authority or recognized organization issuing the new certificate is fully satisfied that the ship is in compliance with the requirements of this Standard. 

 16. A maritime labour certificate shall be withdrawn by the competent authority or the recognized organization duly authorized for this purpose by the flag State, if there is evidence that the ship concerned does not comply with the requirements of this Convention and any required corrective action has not been taken. 

 17. When considering whether a maritime labour certificate should be withdrawn in accordance with paragraph 16 of this Standard, the competent authority or the recognized organization shall take into account the seriousness or the frequency of the deficiencies.

Guideline B5.1.3 - Maritime labour certificate and declaration 
of maritime labour compliance 

 1. The statement of national requirements in Part I of the declaration of maritime labour compliance should include or be accompanied by references to the legislative provisions relating to seafarers’ working and living conditions in each of the matters listed in Appendix 5-I. Where national legislation precisely follows the requirements stated in this Convention, a reference may be all that is necessary. Where a provision of the Convention is implemented through substantial equivalence as provided under Article VI, paragraph 3, this provision should be identified and a concise explanation should be provided. Where an exemption is granted by the competent authority as provided in Title 3, the particular provision or provisions concerned should be clearly indicated. 

2. The measures referred to in Part II of the declaration of maritime labour compliance, drawn up by the shipowner, should, in particular, indicate the occasions on which ongoing compliance with particular national requirements will be verified, the persons responsible for verification, the records to be taken, as well as the procedures to be followed where non-compliance is noted. Part II may take a number of forms. It could make reference to other more comprehensive documentation covering policies and procedures relating to other aspects of the maritime sector, for example documents required by the International Safety Management (ISM) Code or the information required by Regulation 5 of the SOLAS Convention, Chapter XI-1 relating to the ship’s Continuous Synopsis Record.

3. The measures to ensure ongoing compliance should include general international requirements for the shipowner and master to keep themselves informed of the latest advances in technology and scientific findings concerning workplace design, taking into account the inherent dangers of seafarers’ work, and to inform the seafarers’ representatives accordingly, thereby guaranteeing a better level of protection of the seafarers’ working and living conditions on board.

4. The declaration of maritime labour compliance should, above all, be drafted in clear terms designed to help all persons concerned, such as flag State inspectors, authorized officers in port States and seafarers, to check that the requirements are being properly implemented. 

 5. An example of the kind of information that might be contained in a declaration of maritime labour compliance is given in Appendix B5-I.

6. When a ship changes flag as referred to in Standard A5.1.3, paragraph 14(c), and where both States concerned have ratified this Convention, the Member whose flag the ship was formerly entitled to fly should, as soon as possible, transmit to the competent authority of the other Member copies of the maritime labour certificate and the declaration of maritime labour compliance carried by the ship before the change of flag and, if applicable, copies of the relevant inspection reports if the competent authority so requests within three months after the change of flag has taken place.

Regulation 5.1.4 - Inspection and enforcement 

 1. Each Member shall verify, through an effective and coordinated system of regular inspections, monitoring and other control measures, that ships that fly its flag comply with the requirements of this Convention as implemented in national laws and regulations. 

 2. Detailed requirements regarding the inspection and enforcement system referred to in paragraph 1 of this Regulation are set out in Part A of the Code.

Standard A5.1.4 - Inspection and enforcement 

 1. Each Member shall maintain a system of inspection of the conditions for seafarers on ships that fly its flag which shall include verification that the measures relating to working and living conditions as set out in the declaration of maritime labour compliance, where applicable, are being followed, and that the requirements of this Convention are met. 

 2. The competent authority shall appoint a sufficient number of qualified inspectors to fulfil its responsibilities under paragraph 1 of this Standard. Where recognized organizations have been authorized to carry out inspections, the Member shall require that personnel carrying out the inspection are qualified to undertake these duties and shall provide them with the necessary legal authority to perform their duties. 

3. Adequate provision shall be made to ensure that the inspectors have the training, competence, terms of reference, powers, status and independence necessary or desirable so as to enable them to carry out the verification and ensure the compliance referred to in paragraph 1 of this Standard. 

 4. Inspections shall take place at the intervals required by Standard A5.1.3, where applicable. The interval shall in no case exceed three years.

5. If a Member receives a complaint which it does not consider manifestly unfounded or obtains evidence that a ship that flies its flag does not conform to the requirements of this Convention or that there are serious deficiencies in the implementation of the measures set out in the declaration of maritime labour compliance, the Member shall take the steps necessary to investigate the matter and ensure that action is taken to remedy any deficiencies found.

 6. Adequate rules shall be provided and effectively enforced by each Member in order to guarantee that inspectors have the status and conditions of service to ensure that they are independent of changes of government and of improper external influences.

7. Inspectors, issued with clear guidelines as to the tasks to be performed and provided with proper credentials, shall be empowered:

(a) to board a ship that flies the Member’s flag;

(b) to carry out any examination, test or inquiry which they may consider necessary in order to satisfy themselves that the standards are being strictly observed; and

(c) to require that any deficiency is remedied and, where they have grounds to believe that deficiencies constitute a serious breach of the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights), or represent a significant danger to seafarers’ safety, health or security, to prohibit a ship from leaving port until necessary actions are taken.

8. Any action taken pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of this Standard shall be subject to any right of appeal to a judicial or administrative authority.

9. Inspectors shall have the discretion to give advice instead of instituting or recommending proceedings when there is no clear breach of the requirements of this Convention that endangers the safety, health or security of the seafarers concerned and where there is no prior history of similar breaches.

10. Inspectors shall treat as confidential the source of any grievance or complaint alleging a danger or deficiency in relation to seafarers’ working and living conditions or a violation of laws and regulations and give no intimation to the shipowner, the shipowner’s representative or the operator of the ship that an inspection was made as a consequence of such a grievance or complaint.

 11. Inspectors shall not be entrusted with duties which might, because of their number or nature, interfere with effective inspection or prejudice in any way their authority or impartiality in their relations with shipowners, seafarers or other interested parties.  In particular, inspectors shall:

(a) be prohibited from having any direct or indirect interest in any operation which they are called upon to inspect; and

(b) subject to appropriate sanctions or disciplinary measures, not reveal, even after leaving service, any commercial secrets or confidential working processes or information of a personal nature which may come to their knowledge in the course of their duties.

12. Inspectors shall submit a report of each inspection to the competent authority.  One copy of the report in English or in the working language of the ship shall be furnished to the master of the ship and another copy shall be posted on the ship’s notice board for the information of the seafarers and, upon request, sent to their representatives.

 13. The competent authority of each Member shall maintain records of inspections of the conditions for seafarers on ships that fly its flag.  It shall publish an annual report on inspection activities within a reasonable time, not exceeding six months, after the end of the year.

 14. In the case of an investigation pursuant to a major incident, the report shall be submitted to the competent authority as soon as practicable, but not later than one month following the conclusion of the investigation.

15. When an inspection is conducted or when measures are taken under this Standard, all reasonable efforts shall be made to avoid a ship being unreasonably detained or delayed.

 16. Compensation shall be payable in accordance with national laws and regulations for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the wrongful exercise of the inspectors’ powers.  The burden of proof in each case shall be on the complainant.

 17. Adequate penalties and other corrective measures for breaches of the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights) and for obstructing inspectors in the performance of their duties shall be provided for and effectively enforced by each Member.

Guideline B5.1.4 - Inspection and enforcement

 1. The competent authority and any other service or authority wholly or partly concerned with the inspection of seafarers’ working and living conditions should have the resources necessary to fulfil their functions.  In particular:

(a) each Member should take the necessary measures so that duly qualified technical experts and specialists may be called upon, as needed, to assist in the work of inspectors; and

(b) inspectors should be provided with conveniently situated premises, equipment and means of transport adequate for the efficient performance of their duties.

2. The competent authority should develop a compliance and enforcement policy to ensure consistency and otherwise guide inspection and enforcement activities related to this Convention.  Copies of this policy should be provided to all inspectors and relevant law-enforcement officials and should be made available to the public and shipowners and seafarers.

3. The competent authority should establish simple procedures to enable it to receive information in confidence concerning possible breaches of the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights) presented by seafarers directly or by representatives of the seafarers, and permit inspectors to investigate such matters promptly, including:

(a) enabling masters, seafarers or representatives of the seafarers to request an inspection when they consider it necessary; and 

(b) supplying technical information and advice to shipowners and seafarers and organizations concerned as to the most effective means of complying with the requirements of this Convention and of bringing about a continual improvement in seafarers’ on-board conditions.

4. Inspectors should be fully trained and sufficient in numbers to secure the efficient discharge of their duties with due regard to:

(a) the importance of the duties which the inspectors have to perform, in particular the number, nature and size of ships subject to inspection and the number and complexity of the legal provisions to be enforced; 

(b) the resources placed at the disposal of the inspectors; and 

(c) the practical conditions under which inspections must be carried out in order to be effective. 

 5. Subject to any conditions for recruitment to the public service which may be prescribed by national laws and regulations, inspectors should have qualifications and adequate training to perform their duties and where possible should have a maritime education or experience as a seafarer.  They should have adequate knowledge of seafarers’ working and living conditions and of the English language.

6. Measures should be taken to provide inspectors with appropriate further training during their employment. 

 7. All inspectors should have a clear understanding of the circumstances in which an inspection should be carried out, the scope of the inspection to be carried out in the various circumstances referred to and the general method of inspection. 

8. Inspectors provided with proper credentials under the national law should at a minimum be empowered: 

(a) to board ships freely and without previous notice; however, when commencing the ship inspection, inspectors should provide notification of their presence to the master or person in charge and, where appropriate, to the seafarers or their representatives;

(b) to question the master, seafarer or any other person, including the shipowner or the shipowner’s representative, on any matter concerning the application of the requirements under laws and regulations, in the presence of any witness that the person may have requested; 

(c) to require the production of any books, log books, registers, certificates or other documents or information directly related to matters subject to inspection, in order to verify compliance with the national laws and regulations implementing this Convention; 

(d) to enforce the posting of notices required under the national laws and regulations implementing this Convention;

(e) to take or remove, for the purpose of analysis, samples of products, cargo, drinking water, provisions, materials and substances used or handled;

(f) following an inspection, to bring immediately to the attention of the shipowner, the operator of the ship or the master, deficiencies which may affect the health and safety of those on board ship;

(g) to alert the competent authority and, if applicable, the recognized organization to any deficiency or abuse not specifically covered by existing laws or regulations and submit proposals to them for the improvement of the laws or regulations; and

(h) to notify the competent authority of any occupational injuries or diseases affecting seafarers in such cases and in such manner as may be prescribed by laws and regulations.

9. When a sample referred to in paragraph 8(e) of this Guideline is being taken or removed, the shipowner or the shipowner’s representative, and where appropriate a seafarer, should be notified or should be present at the time the sample is taken or removed.  The quantity of such a sample should be properly recorded by the inspector.

 10. The annual report published by the competent authority of each Member, in respect of ships that fly its flag, should contain:

(a) a list of laws and regulations in force relevant to seafarers’ working and living conditions and any amendments which have come into effect during the year;

(b) details of the organization of the system of inspection;

(c) statistics of ships or other premises subject to inspection and of ships and other premises actually inspected;

(d) statistics on all seafarers subject to its national laws and regulations;

(e) statistics and information on violations of legislation, penalties imposed and cases of detention of ships; and

(f) statistics on reported occupational injuries and diseases affecting seafarers.

Regulation 5.1.5 - On-board complaint procedures

 1. Each Member shall require that ships that fly its flag have on-board procedures for the fair, effective and expeditious handling of seafarer complaints alleging breaches of the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights).

 2. Each Member shall prohibit and penalize any kind of victimization of a seafarer for filing a complaint.

 3. The provisions in this Regulation and related sections of the Code are without prejudice to a seafarer’s right to seek redress through whatever legal means the seafarer considers appropriate.

Standard A5.1.5 - On-board complaint procedures

 1. Without prejudice to any wider scope that may be given in national laws or regulations or collective agreements, the on-board procedures may be used by seafarers to lodge complaints relating to any matter that is alleged to constitute a breach of the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights).

 2. Each Member shall ensure that, in its laws or regulations, appropriate on board complaint procedures are in place to meet the requirements of Regulation 5.1.5.  Such procedures shall seek to resolve complaints at the lowest level possible.  However, in all cases, seafarers shall have a right to complain directly to the master and, where they consider it necessary, to appropriate external authorities.

3. The on-board complaint procedures shall include the right of the seafarer to be accompanied or represented during the complaints procedure, as well as safeguards against the possibility of victimization of seafarers for filing complaints.  The term “victimization” covers any adverse action taken by any person with respect to a seafarer for lodging a complaint which is not manifestly vexatious or maliciously made.

 4. In addition to a copy of their seafarers’ employment agreement, all seafarers shall be provided with a copy of the on-board complaint procedures applicable on the ship.  This shall include contact information for the competent authority in the flag State and, where different, in the seafarers’ country of residence, and the name of a person or persons on board the ship who can, on a confidential basis, provide seafarers with impartial advice on their complaint and otherwise assist them in following the complaint procedures available to them on board the ship.

Guideline B5.1.5 - On-board complaint procedures

 1. Subject to any relevant provisions of an applicable collective agreement, the competent authority should, in close consultation with shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations, develop a model for fair, expeditious and well-documented on-board complaint-handling procedures for all ships that fly the Member’s flag.  In developing these procedures the following matters should be considered:

 (a) many complaints may relate specifically to those individuals to whom the complaint is to be made or even to the master of the ship.  In all cases seafarers should also be able to complain directly to the master and to make a complaint externally; and

 (b) in order to help avoid problems of victimization of seafarers making complaints about matters under this Convention, the procedures should encourage the nomination of a person on board who can advise seafarers on the procedures available to them and, if requested by the complainant seafarer, also attend any meetings or hearings into the subject matter of the complaint.

2. At a minimum the procedures discussed during the consultative process referred to in paragraph 1 of this Guideline should include the following:

 (a) complaints should be addressed to the head of the department of the seafarer lodging the complaint or to the seafarer’s superior officer;

 (b) the head of department or superior officer should then attempt to resolve the matter within prescribed time limits appropriate to the seriousness of the issues involved;

 (c) if the head of department or superior officer cannot resolve the complaint to the satisfaction of the seafarer, the latter may refer it to the master, who should handle the matter personally;

(d) seafarers should at all times have the right to be accompanied and to be represented by another seafarer of their choice on board the ship concerned;

 (e) all complaints and the decisions on them should be recorded and a copy provided to the seafarer concerned;

 (f) if a complaint cannot be resolved on board, the matter should be referred ashore to the shipowner, who should be given an appropriate time limit for resolving the matter, where appropriate, in consultation with the seafarers concerned or any person they may appoint as their representative; and

 (g) in all cases seafarers should have a right to file their complaints directly with the master and the shipowner and competent authorities.

Regulation 5.1.6 - Marine casualties

 1. Each Member shall hold an official inquiry into any serious marine casualty, leading to injury or loss of life, that involves a ship that flies its flag.  The final report of an inquiry shall normally be made public.

 2. Members shall cooperate with each other to facilitate the investigation of serious marine casualties referred to in paragraph 1 of this Regulation.

Standard A5.1.6 - Marine casualties

(No provisions)

Guideline B5.1.6 - Marine casualties

(No provisions)

Regulation 5.2 - Port State responsibilities

Purpose:  To enable each Member to implement its responsibilities under this Convention regarding international cooperation in the implementation and enforcement of the Convention standards on foreign ships

Regulation 5.2.1 - Inspections in port

 1. Every foreign ship calling, in the normal course of its business or for operational reasons, in the port of a Member may be the subject of inspection in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article V for the purpose of reviewing compliance with the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights) relating to the working and living conditions of seafarers on the ship.

2. Each Member shall accept the maritime labour certificate and the declaration of maritime labour compliance required under Regulation 5.1.3 as prima facie evidence of compliance with the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights).  Accordingly, the inspection in its ports shall, except in the circumstances specified in the Code, be limited to a review of the certificate and declaration.

3. Inspections in a port shall be carried out by authorized officers in accordance with the provisions of the Code and other applicable international arrangements governing port State control inspections in the Member.  Any such inspection shall be limited to verifying that the matter inspected is in conformity with the relevant requirements set out in the Articles and Regulations of this Convention and in Part A only of the Code.

 4. Inspections that may be carried out in accordance with this Regulation shall be based on an effective port State inspection and monitoring system to help ensure that the working and living conditions for seafarers on ships entering a port of the Member concerned meet the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights).

 5. Information about the system referred to in paragraph 4 of this Regulation, including the method used for assessing its effectiveness, shall be included in the Member’s reports pursuant to article 22 of the Constitution.

Standard A5.2.1 - Inspections in port

 1. Where an authorized officer, having come on board to carry out an inspection and requested, where applicable, the maritime labour certificate and the declaration of maritime labour compliance, finds that:

 (a) the required documents are not produced or maintained or are falsely maintained or that the documents produced do not contain the information required by this Convention or are otherwise invalid; or

 (b) there are clear grounds for believing that the working and living conditions on the ship do not conform to the requirements of this Convention; or

 (c) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the ship has changed flag for the purpose of voiding compliance with this Convention; or

 (d) there is a complaint alleging that specific working and living conditions on the ship do not conform to the requirements of this Convention;

a more detailed inspection may be carried out to ascertain the working and living conditions on board the ship.  Such inspection shall in any case be carried out where the working and living conditions believed or alleged to be defective could constitute a clear hazard to the safety, health or security of seafarers or where the authorized officer has grounds to believe that any deficiencies constitute a serious breach of the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights).

2. Where a more detailed inspection is carried out on a foreign ship in the port of a Member by authorized officers in the circumstances set out in subparagraph (a), (b) or (c) of paragraph 1 of this Standard, it shall in principle cover the matters listed in Appendix A5-III. 

 3. In the case of a complaint under paragraph 1(d) of this Standard, the inspection shall generally be limited to matters within the scope of the complaint, although a complaint, or its investigation, may provide clear grounds for a detailed inspection in accordance with paragraph 1(b) of this Standard.  For the purpose of paragraph 1(d) of this Standard, “complaint” means information submitted by a seafarer, a professional body, an association, a trade union or, generally, any person with an interest in the safety of the ship, including an interest in safety or health hazards to seafarers on board. 

4. Where, following a more detailed inspection, the working and living conditions on the ship are found not to conform to the requirements of this Convention, the authorized officer shall forthwith bring the deficiencies to the attention of the master of the ship, with required deadlines for their rectification.  In the event that such deficiencies are considered by the authorized officer to be significant, or if they relate to a complaint made in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Standard, the authorized officer shall bring the deficiencies to the attention of the appropriate seafarers’ and shipowners’ organizations in the Member in which the inspection is carried out, and may:

(a) notify a representative of the flag State; 

(b) provide the competent authorities of the next port of call with the relevant information. 

5. The Member in which the inspection is carried out shall have the right to transmit a copy of the officer’s report, which must be accompanied by any reply received from the competent authorities of the flag State within the prescribed deadline, to the Director-General of the International Labour Office with a view to such action as may be considered appropriate and expedient in order to ensure that a record is kept of such information and that it is brought to the attention of parties which might be interested in availing themselves of relevant recourse procedures. 

6. Where, following a more detailed inspection by an authorized officer, the ship is found not to conform to the requirements of this Convention and:

(a) the conditions on board are clearly hazardous to the safety, health or security of seafarers; or 

(b) the non-conformity constitutes a serious or repeated breach of the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights); 

the authorized officer shall take steps to ensure that the ship shall not proceed to sea until any non-conformities that fall within the scope of subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph have been rectified, or until the authorized officer has accepted a plan of action to rectify such non-conformities and is satisfied that the plan will be implemented in an expeditious manner.  If the ship is prevented from sailing, the authorized officer shall forthwith notify the flag State accordingly and invite a representative of the flag State to be present, if possible, requesting the flag State to reply within a prescribed deadline.  The authorized officer shall also inform forthwith the appropriate shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations in the port State in which the inspection was carried out. 

7. Each Member shall ensure that its authorized officers are given guidance, of the kind indicated in Part B of the Code, as to the kinds of circumstances justifying detention of a ship under paragraph 6 of this Standard.

 8. When implementing their responsibilities under this Standard, each Member shall make all possible efforts to avoid a ship being unduly detained or delayed.  If a ship is found to be unduly detained or delayed, compensation shall be paid for any loss or damage suffered.  The burden of proof in each case shall be on the complainant.

Guideline B5.2.1 - Inspections in port 

 1. The competent authority should develop an inspection policy for authorized officers carrying out inspections under Regulation 5.2.1.  The objective of the policy should be to ensure consistency and to otherwise guide inspection and enforcement activities related to the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights).  Copies of this policy should be provided to all authorized officers and should be available to the public and shipowners and seafarers.

2. When developing a policy relating to the circumstances warranting a detention of the ship under Standard A5.2.1, paragraph 6, of the competent authority should consider that, with respect to the breaches referred to in Standard A5.2.1, paragraph 6(b), the seriousness could be due to the nature of the deficiency concerned.  This would be particularly relevant in the case of the violation of fundamental rights and principles or seafarers’ employment and social rights under Articles III and IV.  For example, the employment of a person who is under age should be considered as a serious breach even if there is only one such person on board.  In other cases, the number of different defects found during a particular inspection should be taken into account:  for example, several instances of defects relating to accommodation or food and catering which do not threaten safety or health might be needed before they should be considered as constituting a serious breach.
3. Members should cooperate with each other to the maximum extent possible in the adoption of internationally agreed guidelines on inspection policies, especially those relating to the circumstances warranting the detention of a ship.

Regulation 5.2.2 - Onshore seafarer complaint-handling procedures

 1. Each Member shall ensure that seafarers on ships calling at a port in the Member’s territory who allege a breach of the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights) have the right to report such a complaint in order to facilitate a prompt and practical means of redress.

Standard A5.2.2 - Onshore seafarer complaint-handling procedures 

 1. A complaint by a seafarer alleging a breach of the requirements of this Convention (including seafarers’ rights) may be reported to an authorized officer in the port at which the seafarer’s ship has called. In such cases, the authorized officer shall undertake an initial investigation. 

 2. Where appropriate, given the nature of the complaint, the initial investigation shall include consideration of whether the on-board complaint procedures provided under Regulation 5.1.5 have been explored. The authorized officer may also conduct a more detailed inspection in accordance with Standard A5.2.1. 

3. The authorized officer shall, where appropriate, seek to promote a resolution of the complaint at the ship-board level. 

 4. In the event that the investigation or the inspection provided under this Standard reveals a non-conformity that falls within the scope of paragraph 6 of Standard A5.2.1, the provisions of that paragraph shall be applied. 

 5. Where the provisions of paragraph 4 of this Standard do not apply, and the complaint has not been resolved at the ship-board level, the authorized officer shall forthwith notify the flag State, seeking, within a prescribed deadline, advice and a corrective plan of action. 

6. Where the complaint has not been resolved following action taken in accordance with paragraph 5 of this Standard, the port State shall transmit a copy of the authorized officer’s report to the Director-General. The report must be accompanied by any reply received within the prescribed deadline from the competent authority of the flag State. The appropriate shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations in the port State shall be similarly informed. In addition, statistics and information regarding complaints that have been resolved shall be regularly submitted by the port State to the Director-General. Both such submissions are provided in order that, on the basis of such action as may be considered appropriate and expedient, a record is kept of such information and is brought to the attention of parties, including shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations, which might be interested in availing themselves of relevant recourse procedures. 

 7. Appropriate steps shall be taken to safeguard the confidentiality of complaints made by seafarers.

Guideline B5.2.2 - Onshore seafarer 
complaint-handling procedures 

 1. Where a complaint referred to in Standard A5.2.2 is dealt with by an authorized officer, the officer should first check whether the complaint is of a general nature which concerns all seafarers on the ship, or a category of them, or whether it relates only to the individual case of the seafarer concerned. 

 2. If the complaint is of a general nature, consideration should be given to undertaking a more detailed inspection in accordance with Standard A5.2.1. 

3. If the complaint relates to an individual case, an examination of the results of any on-board complaint procedures for the resolution of the complaint concerned should be undertaken. If such procedures have not been explored, the authorized officer should suggest that the complainant take advantage of any such procedures available. There should be good reasons for considering a complaint before any on-board complaint procedures have been explored. These would include the inadequacy of, or undue delay in, the internal procedures or the complainant’s fear of reprisal for lodging a complaint. 

4. In any investigation of a complaint, the authorized officer should give the master, the shipowner and any other person involved in the complaint a proper opportunity to make known their views. 

 5. In the event that the flag State demonstrates, in response to the notification by the port State in accordance with paragraph 5 of Standard A5.2.2, that it will handle the matter, and that it has in place effective procedures for this purpose and has submitted an acceptable plan of action, the authorized officer may refrain from any further involvement with the complaint.

Regulation 5.3 - Labour-supplying responsibilities

Purpose: To ensure that each Member implements its responsibilities 
under this Convention as pertaining to seafarer recruitment 
and placement and the social protection of its seafarers 

 1. Without prejudice to the principle of each Member’s responsibility for the working and living conditions of seafarers on ships that fly its flag, the Member also has a responsibility to ensure the implementation of the requirements of this Convention regarding the recruitment and placement of seafarers as well as the social security protection of seafarers that are its nationals or are resident or are otherwise domiciled in its territory, to the extent that such responsibility is provided for in this Convention.

2. Detailed requirements for the implementation of paragraph 1 of this Regulation are found in the Code. 
3. Each Member shall establish an effective inspection and monitoring system for enforcing its labour-supplying responsibilities under this Convention.
4. Information about the system referred to in paragraph 3 of this Regulation, including the method used for assessing its effectiveness, shall be included in the Member’s reports pursuant to article 22 of the Constitution.

Standard A5.3 - Labour-supplying responsibilities

 1. Each Member shall enforce the requirements of this Convention applicable to the operation and practice of seafarer recruitment and placement services established on its territory through a system of inspection and monitoring and legal proceedings for breaches of licensing and other operational requirements provided for in Standard A1.4.

Guideline 5.3 - Labour-supplying responsibilities

 1. Private seafarer recruitment and placement services established in the Member’s territory and securing the services of a seafarer for a shipowner, wherever located, should be required to assume obligations to ensure the proper fulfilment by shipowners of the terms of their employment agreements concluded with seafarers.

APPENDIX A5-I
 
 The working and living conditions of seafarers that must be inspected and approved by the flag State before certifying a ship in accordance with Standard A5.1.3, paragraph l:

Minimum age 
Medical certification 
Qualifications of seafarers 
Seafarers’ employment agreements 
Use of any licensed or certified or regulated private recruitment 
 and placement service 
Hours of work or rest 
Manning levels for the ship 
Accommodation 
On-board recreational facilities 
Food and catering 
Health and safety and accident prevention 
On-board medical care 
On-board complaint procedures 
Payment of wages

APPENDIX A5-II

Maritime Labour Certificate

(Note:  This Certificate shall have a Declaration
of Maritime Labour Compliance attached)

Issued under the provisions of Article V and Title 5 of the
Maritime Labour Convention, 2006
(referred to below as “the Convention”)
under the authority of the Government of:

                                                           

(full designation of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly)

by                                                         

(full designation and address of the competent authority or recognized
organization duly authorized under the provisions of the Convention)

Particulars of the ship

Name of ship                                                  
Distinctive number or letters                                      
Port of registry                                                 
Date of registry                                                 
Gross tonnage1                                                  
MO number                                                    
Type of ship                                                    
Name and address of the shipowner2  

This is to certify:

 1. That this ship has been inspected and verified to be in compliance with the requirements of the Convention, and the provisions of the attached Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance.

 2. That the seafarers’ working and living conditions specified in Appendix A5-I of the Convention were found to correspond to the abovementioned country’s national requirements implementing the Convention.  These national requirements are summarized in the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance, Part I.

This Certificate is valid until .................................. subject to inspections in accordance with Standards A5.1.3 and A5.1.4 of the Convention.

This Certificate is valid only when the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance issued

at .................................. on .................................. is attached.

Completion date of the inspection on which this Certificate is based was .................................. Issued at .................................. on .................................. Signature of the duly authorized official issuing the Certificate

(Seal or stamp of issuing authority, as appropriate)

Endorsements for mandatory intermediate inspection and, if required,
any additional inspection

 This is to certify that the ship was inspected in accordance with Standards A5.1.3 and A5.1.4 of the Convention and that the seafarers’ working and living conditions specified in Appendix A5-I of the Convention were found to correspond to the abovementioned country’s national requirements implementing the Convention.

Intermediate inspection: Signed .........................................

(to be completed between the second (Signature of authorized official)
and third anniversary
dates)    ....................................................

    Place ...........................................

    Date ............................................

    (Seal or stamp of the authority,
    as appropriate)

Additional endorsements (if required)

 This is to certify that the ship was the subject of an additional inspection for the purpose of verifying that the ship continued to be in compliance with the national requirements implementing the Convention, as required by Standard A3.1, paragraph 3, of the Convention (re-registration or substantial alteration of accommodation) or for other reasons.

Additional inspection: Signed .........................................

(if required)   (Signature of authorized official)

    ....................................................

    Place ...........................................

    Date ............................................

    (Seal or stamp of the authority,
    as appropriate)

Additional inspection: Signed .........................................

(if required)   (Signature of authorized official)

    ....................................................

    Place ...........................................

    Date ............................................

    (Seal or stamp of the authority,
    as appropriate)

Additional inspection: Signed .........................................

(if required)   (Signature of authorized official)

    ....................................................

    Place ...........................................

    Date ............................................

    (Seal or stamp of the authority,
    as appropriate)

1 For ships covered by the tonnage measurement interim scheme adopted by the IMO, the gross tonnage is that which is included in the REMARKS column of the International Tonnage Certificate (1969).  See Article II(1)(c) of the Convention.

 2 Shipowner means the owner of the ship or another organization or person, such as the manager, agent or bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for the operation of the ship from the owner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over the duties and responsibilities imposed on shipowners in accordance with this Convention, regardless of whether any other organizations or persons fulfil certain of the duties or responsibilities on behalf of the shipowner.  See Article II(1)(j) of the Convention.

Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance - Part I

(Note:  This Declaration must be attached
to the ship’s Maritime Labour Certificate)

Issued under the authority of:  ................. (insert name of competent
authority as defined in Article II, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention)

With respect to the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, the following referenced ship:

Name of ship     IMO number    Gross tonnage

  is maintained in accordance with Standard A5.1.3 of the Convention.

 The undersigned declares, on behalf of the abovementioned competent authority, that:

(a) the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention are fully embodied in the national requirements referred to below;

(b) these national requirements are contained in the national provisions referenced below;

 explanations concerning the content of those provisions are provided where necessary;

(c) the details of any substantial equivalencies under Article VI, paragraphs 3 and 4, are provided   (strike out the statement which is not applicable);

(d) any exemptions granted by the competent authority in accordance with Title 3 are clearly indicated in the section provided for this purpose below; and

(e) any ship-type specific requirements under national legislation are also referenced under the requirements concerned.

1. Minimum age (Regulation 1.1)............................................................
2. Medical certification (Regulation 1.2)..................................................
3. Qualifications of seafarers (Regulation 1.3).........................................
4. Seafarers’ employment agreements
 (Regulation 2.1)..................................................................................
5. Use of any licensed or certified or regulated private recruitment
 and placement service (Regulation 1.4)................................................
6. Hours of work or rest (Regulation 2.3).................................................
7. Manning levels for the ship (Regulation 2.7).......................................
8. Accommodation (Regulation 3.1)........................................................
9. On-board recreational facilities (Regulation 3.1).................................
10. Food and catering (Regulation 3.2)......................................................
11. Health and safety and accident prevention
 (Regulation 4.3)..................................................................................
12. On-board medical care (Regulation 4.1)...............................................
13. On-board complaint procedures
 (Regulation 5.1.5)................................................................................
14. Payment of wages (Regulation 2.2)......................................................

Name: .................................

Title: .................................

Signature: ................................

Place: ................................

Date: ................................

(Seal or stamp of the authority, as appropriate)

Substantial equivalencies

(Note:  Strike out the statement which is not applicable)

 The following substantial equivalencies, as provided under Article VI, paragraphs 3 and 4, of the Convention, except where stated above, are noted (insert description if applicable):

No equivalency has been granted.

Name: .................................

Title: .................................

Signature: ................................

Place: ................................

Date: ................................

(Seal or stamp of the authority, as appropriate)

Exemptions

(Note: Strike out the statement which is not applicable)

 The following exemptions granted by the competent authority as provided in Title 3 of the Convention are noted:

No exemption has been granted.

Name: .................................

Title: .................................

Signature: ................................

Place: ................................

Date: ................................

(Seal or stamp of the authority, as appropriate)

Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance - Part II

Measures adopted to ensure ongoing compliance
between inspections

 The following measures have been drawn up by the shipowner, named in the Maritime Labour Certificate to which this Declaration is attached, to ensure ongoing compliance between inspections:

(State below the measures drawn up to ensure compliance with each of the items in Part I)

1. Minimum age (Regulation 1.1) 
 2.  Medical certification (Regulation 1.2)
3. Qualifications of seafarers (Regulation 1.3) 
4. Seafarers’ employment agreements (Regulation 2.1)
5. Use of any licensed or certified or regulated privat
 recruitment and placement service (Regulation 1.4) 
6. Hours of work or rest (Regulation 23) 
7. Manning levels for the ship (Regulation 2.7) 
8. Accommodation (Regulation 3.1)
9. On-board recreational facilities (Regulation 3.1) 
10. Food and catering (Regulation 3.2) 
11. Health and safety and accident prevention (Regulation 4.3)
12. On-board medical care (Regulation 4.1)
13. On-board complaint procedures (Regulation 5.1.5)
14. Payment of wages (Regulation 2.2) 

I hereby certify that the above measures have been drawn up to ensure ongoing compliance, between inspections, with the requirements listed in Patr I.

 Name of shipowner:1                      

 Company address:                        
      
 Name of the authorized signatory:           
   
 Title:                                   

 Signature of the authorized signatory:
   
 Date:                                   

 (Stamp or seal of the shipowner1)

The above measures have been reviewed by (insert name of competent authority or duly recognized organization) and, following inspection of the ship, have been determined as meeting the purposes set out under Standard A5.1.3, paragraph 10(b), regarding measures to ensure initial and ongoing compliance with the requirements set out in Part I of this Declaration.

 Name:                                  

 Title:                                   

 Address:                                

 Signature:                               

 Place:                                  

 Date:                                   

 (Seal or stamp of the authority, as appropriate)

1   Shipowner means the owner of the ship or another organization or person, such as the manager, agent or bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility or the operation of the ship from the owner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over the duties and responsibilities imposed on shipowners in accordance with this Convention, regardless of whether any other organizations or persons fulfil certain of the duties or responsibilities on behalf of the shipowner.  See Article II(1)(j) of the Convention.

Interim Maritime Labour Certificate

Issued under the provisions of Article V and Title 5 of the
Maritime Labour Convention, 2006
(referred to below as “the Convention”)
under the authority of the Government of:

.............................................................................................................

(full designation of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly)

by .................................................................................................................

(full designation and address of the competent authority or recognized organization duly authorized under the provisions of the Convention)

Particulars of the ship

Name of ship ................................................................................................

Distinctive number or letters ........................................................................

Port of registry .............................................................................................

Date of registry ............................................................................................

Gross tonnage1 .............................................................................................

IMO number .................................................................................................

Type of ship .................................................................................................

Name and address of the shipowner2 .............................................................

.....................................................................................................................

 This is to certify, for the purposes of Standard A5.1.3, paragraph 7, of the Convention, that: 
(a) this ship has been inspected, as far as reasonable and practicable, for the matters listed in Appendix A5-I to the Convention, taking into account verification of items under (b), (c) and (d) below; 

(b) the shipowner has demonstrated to the competent authority or recognized organization that the ship has adequate procedures to comply with the Convention; 

(c) the master is familiar with the requirements of the Convention and the responsibilities for implementation; and 

(d) relevant information has been submitted to the competent authority or recognized organization to produce a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance. 

This Certificate is valid until ....................................subject to inspections in accordance with Standards A5.1.3 and A5.1.4. 

Completion date of the inspection referred to under (a) above was ..............................................
Issued at .............................................. on ...................................................

Signature of the duly authorized official
issuing the interim certificate .......................................................................

(Seal or stamp of issuing authority, as appropriate)

1 For ships covered by the tonnage measurement interim scheme adopted by the IMO, the gross tonnage is that which is included in the REMARKS column of the International Tonnage Certificate (1969). See Article II(1)(c) of the Convention. 

 2 Shipowner means the owner of the ship or another organization or person, such as the manager, agent or bareboat charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for the operation of the ship from the owner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over the duties and responsibilities imposed on shipowners in accordance with this Convention, regardless of whether any other organizations or persons fulfil certain of the duties or responsibilities on behalf of the shipowner. Sec Article II(1)(j) of the Convention.

APPENDIX A5-III

 General areas that are subject to a detailed inspection by an authorized officer in a port of a Member carrying out a port State inspection pursuant to Standard A5.2.1: 

Minimum age 
Medical certification 
Qualifications of seafarers 
Seafarers’ employment agreements 
Use of any licensed or certified or regulated private recruitment 
  and placement service 
Hours of work or rest 
Manning levels for the ship 
Accommodation 
On-board recreational facilities 
Food and catering 
Health and safety and accident prevention 
On-board medical care 
On-board complaint procedures 
Payment of wages

APPENDIX B5-I — EXAMPLE OF A NATIONAL DECLARATION

See Guideline B5.1.3, paragraph 5

Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance -- Part I

(Note:  This Declaration must be attached
to the ship’s Maritime Labour Certificate)

Issued under the authority of:
The Ministry of Maritime Transport of Xxxxxx

 With respect to the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, the following referenced ship:

Name of ship IMO number Gross tonnage
M.S. EXAMPLE 12345 1,000

is maintained in accordance with Standard A5.1.3 of the Convention.

The undersigned declares, on behalf of the abovementioned competent authority, that:

(a) the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention are fully embodied in the national requirements referred to below;

(b) these national requirements are contained in the national provisions referenced below; explanations concerning the content of those provisions are provided where necessary;

(c) the details of any substantial equivalencies under Article VI, paragraphs 3 and 4, are provided   (strike out the statement which is not applicable);

(d) any exemptions granted by the competent authority in accordance with Title 3 are clearly indicated in the section provided for this purpose below; and

(e) any ship-type specific requirements under national legislation are also referenced under the requirements concerned.

1. Minimum age (Regulation 1.1)

 Shipping Law, No. 123 of 1905, as amended (“Law”), Chapter X; Shipping Regulations (“Regulations”), 2006, Rules 1111-1222.

 Minimum ages are those referred to in the Convention.

 “Night” means 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless the Ministry of Maritime Transport (“Ministry”) approves a different period.

 Examples of hazardous work restricted to 18-year-olds or over are listed in Schedule A hereto.  In the case of cargo ships, no one under 18 may work in the areas marked on the ship’s plan (to be attached to this Declaration) as “hazardous area”.

2. Medical certification (Regulation 1.2)

 Law, Chapter XI; Regulations, Rules 1223-1233.

 Medical certificates shall conform to the STCW requirements, where applicable; in other cases, the STCW requirements are applied with any necessary adjustments.

 Qualified opticians on list approved by Ministry may issue certificates concerning eyesight.

 Medical examinations follow the ILO/WHO Guidelines referred to in Guideline B1.2.1

Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance — Part II

Measures adopted to ensure ongoing compliance
between inspections

 The following measures have been drawn up by the shipowner, named in the Maritime Labour Certificate to which this Declaration is attached, to ensure ongoing compliance between inspections:

(State below the measures drawn up to ensure compliance with each of the items in Part I)

1. Minimum age (Regulation 1.1)                   □X

 Date of birth of each seafarer is noted against his/her name on the crew list.

 The list is checked at the beginning of each voyage by the master or officer acting on his or her behalf (“competent officer”), who records the date of such verification.

 Each seafarer under 18 receives, at the time of engagement, a note prohibiting him/her from performing night work or the work specifically listed as hazardous (see Part I, section 1, above) and any other hazardous work, and requiring him/her to consult the competent officer in case of doubt.  A copy of the note, with the seafarer’s signature under “received and read”, and the date of signature, is kept by the competent officer.

2. Medical certification (Regulation 1.2)                   □X

 The medical certificates are kept in strict confidence by the competent officer, together with a list, prepared under the competent officer’s responsibility and stating for each seafarer on board:  the functions of the seafarer, the date of the current medical certificate(s) and the health status noted on the certificate concerned.

 In any case of possible doubt as to whether the seafarer is medically fit for a particular function or functions, the competent officer consults the seafarer’s doctor or another qualified practitioner and records a summary of the practitioner’s conclusions, as well as the practitioner’s name and telephone number and the date of the consultation.

The foregoing is the authentic text of the Convention duly adopted by the General Conference of the International Labour Organization during its Ninety-fourth Session which was held at Geneva and declared closed the 23 February 2006.

 IN FAITH WHEREOF we have appended our signatures this twenty-third day of February 2006.

The President of the Conference,

JEAN-MARC SCHINDLER

The Director-General of the International Labour Office,

JUAN SOMAVIA