- Campaign Coordinated by Bulgaria with Global MoU Support
- Georgia Participates for Training Ahead of MLC Enforcement
- 635 Inspections Conducted Across 626 Ships
From 1 September 2024 to 30 November 2024, the Black Sea Memorandum of Understanding (BS MoU) carried out a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on crew salaries and seafarer employment contracts by the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006). The campaign sought to confirm compliance with MLC standards regarding seafarers’ rights and working conditions, reports Black Sea MOU.
Coordination and Participation
The CIC was performed by BS MoU member Authorities, which have ratified the MLC, 2006. It was carried out in cooperation with parallel campaigns by the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda, as well as other PSC regimes in the region. The Maritime Administration of Bulgaria coordinated the campaign efforts. Member authorities utilised the guidelines and questionnaires issued by the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda. Though Georgia ratified the MLC, 2006, the convention will become applicable in that state only on 14 February 2025. Georgian authorities have hence employed the materials for training purposes alone throughout the campaign.
Scope of Inspections
The CIC applies to all vessels, one ship being inspected only once by the member Authorities of the BS MoU, which are parties to the MLC, 2006. 635 inspections were carried out by the member Authorities of the BS MoU that are parties to the MLC, 2006. A total of 626 individual ships were inspected, with 553 of the inspections comprising the CIC questionnaire.
Detentions and Non-Compliances
53 ships were detained during the campaign. Of these, 45 detentions stemmed from inspections involving the CIC questionnaire, and 4 were directly linked to CIC focus area deficiencies. 28 questionnaires out of the total showed at least one non-compliance with the MLC requirements, which is equivalent to 5.06 per cent of the CIC inspections. The overall average rate of non-conformities, according to “unsatisfactory” responses to any of the questions in the CIC, was at 0.74 per cent.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Black Sea MOU
