15 October 2020
Applicability: Shipowners, ship managers, ship masters, tankers, bulk carriers, container ships and all ships to which the MLC 2006 applies.
The 2018 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) will enter into force on 26 December 2020.
The amendment to Standard A2.1 requires a Seafarer's Employment Agreement (SEA) to remain in effect while a seafarer is held captive on or off the ship due to piracy or armed robbery, regardless of whether the date fixed for its expiry has passed or any notice to terminate it has been issued.
The amendment to Standard A2.2 requires that wages and other entitlements, under the SEA and any Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), including allotments, shall continue to be paid during the entire period of captivity until the seafarer is released and repatriated in accordance with MLC 2006 requirements or dies in captivity. The date of any death in captivity will be determined in accordance with national laws and recommendations.
The amendments do not necessitate any immediate changes to the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC) Part I. As such, changes to the DMLC Part II are not necessary, unless there are any pre-existing references that contravene the 2018 amendments.
If changes to the DMLC Part II are made, these do not require submission to Lloyd’s Register (LR) at this time. LR will be confirming compliance with the new requirements during scheduled MLC 2006 inspections on or after 26 December 2020.
For further information, please contact marine-management-systems@lr.org