During the first month after the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) entered into force, seven ships were detained for MLC-related deficiencies.
This means that ten per cent of the total number of detentions (68) in the Paris MoU area in this period was MLC, 2006 related.
Port State Control
The MLC, 2006 entered into force on 20 August after which it became a relevant instrument for the Paris MoU. Thus making the MLC requirements officially subject to port State control.
Dutch Ship Among Detained
The detentions were imposed by four different port states: Canada (two ships), Denmark, the Russian Federation and Spain (three ships). The detained ships were flying the flag of the Netherlands, Cyprus (two ships), Liberia, Panama (two ships) and Tanzania.
Other interesting figures during the month of MLC:
- A total of 4260 deficiencies have been recorded;
- 494 deficiencies out of the 4260 recorded (11.5 per cent) were related to any of the ILO Conventions listed as relevant instrument;
- Of these 494, 30 (6,1 per cent) were considered to be serious enough to be a ground for detention;
- 23 of those 30 (76,7 per cent) were related to breaches of the MLC and resulted in the detention of seven individual ships;
- The total number of detentions was 68 during 1532 inspections, which resulted in a detention rate of 4.4 per cent.
MLC, 2006
The MLC, 2006 applies to all ships engaged in commercial activities. International certification is required for all ships of 500 GT and over, making international voyages. The requirements of the MLC, 2006 have to be implemented on board at the entry into force date 20 August.
Twelve Paris MoU Member States Enforce MLC
Only the member States of the Paris MoU who have ratified the MLC, 2006 on or before 20 August 2012 are entitled to conduct PSC inspections on MLC, 2006 requirements from 20 August 2013. As a result the following twelve member States have started enforcing the MLC, 2006: Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Russian Federation, Spain and Sweden.
