Seafarers’ working and living conditions are to become part of a new mandatory inspection regime in Norway which is to start on 1 January 2009. All vessels above 500 GT flying the Norwegian flag will be included.
Norway is enforcing International Labour Organisation Convention No. 178 – the Labour Inspection (Seafarers) Convention. The Norwegian flag authority, represented by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD), has directed all its recognised organisations to start inspecting ships from the beginning of 2009. DNV is one of these organisations
Many Shipowners Are well Prepared
Georg Smefjell, the project manager of DNV’s Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) team says a large number of shipowners are well prepared and have established conditions for their seafarers above the minimum requirements in the new regime a long time ago. “However,” he says, “all shipowners and operators must be in compliance with the laws and regulations stipulated in the Convention, and they need to start now.”
ILO 178 Surveys
The ILO 178 surveys are to be carried out at intervals of 2.5 years – with a maximum of three years between two inspections. According to the NMD, the surveys are to be carried out during ordinary manning surveys or international safety management audits as appropriate.
A new certification regime will be mandatory as early as 2011. The MLC, which is another step forward and has a wider scope to safeguard the seafarers’ working and living conditions, will soon be ratified by the Norwegian parliament.
