What is the Maritime Labour Convention (also known as MLC)?

The MLC came into force internationally on the 20th August 2013, introducing new international standards to ensure that seafarers have decent living and working conditions on commercially operated vessels, including all vessels certificated under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Codes of Practice.

These standards include minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship, conditions of employment, accommodation, health protection, medical care, welfare and social security.

Which vessels does the MLC apply to?

The MLC applies to any commercially operated vessels that:

• Are on an international voyage, which includes any voyage to a country or within the waters of a country other than that for which you are coded;
• Are coded under Category 1 or 0 on any voyages.

The MCA has stated the MLC does not apply to UK coded vessels solely on voyages up to 60 miles from a UK safe haven (assuming those 60 miles are still within UK waters) except where coded category 0 or 1.

How does the MLC affect you?

An MLC inspection will be required for all vessels to which the MLC applies. This inspection consists of additional checks that your Nominated Coding Surveyor needs to perform, including sighting documents such as Seafarer Employment Agreements. Your Nominated Coding Surveyor will complete and sign an SCV2C form, which covers all requirements of the inspection, and you will be required to counter-sign upon completion.

All the paperwork is sent in to the YDSA Certifying Authority for checking by one of our Duty Surveyors. Any queries arising will need to be addressed, usually by your Nominated Coding Surveyor in the first instance.

When the documentation is completed and the relevant fees have been paid to your Nominated Coding Surveyor and the YDSA Certifying Authority, your certificate will be endorsed to show compliance with the MLC.

The MLC Inspection is valid for up to three years. The MCA expects you to have the MLC Inspection performed at the same time as your Compliance Examination and your Mid-Term Inspection to keep your costs down, although this is not mandatory. If you have the MLC Inspection at a different time, you will be issued a replacement certificate.

Please check with your Nominated Coding Surveyor to see if you need to have an MLC inspection carried out in addition to the usual Compliance Examination or Annual Survey, and if so, make appropriate arrangements with them.

Additional Information

More information on the MLC can be found at the following:

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mlc-2006-titles-1-to-5-regulations-guidance-and-information
• https://www.gov.uk/seafarer-working-and-living-rights