Given that the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006) may go into effect next year, the Professional Yachtsmen’s Association (PYA) is holding a two-day training seminar. It includes information vital to megayacht managers and crewmembers alike.
The seminar is from October 10 to 11 in Monaco. Representatives of the MCA, which will enforce MLC 2006, are hosting it. If you’re in the megayacht industry, no doubt by now you’ve heard of this convention, a.k.a. standard. If you’re not familiar with it, MLC 2006 is a complicated matter. In brief, it comes from the International Labour Organization (ILO), a specialized agency of the United Nations. The ILO promotes social justice and internationally recognized human and labor rights. It believes that fair standards lead to economic and social progress and prosperity. Therefore, MLC 2006 sets forth consistent living and working conditions for the 1.2 million seafarers worldwide. The stanard applies regardless of a vessel being a yacht or commercial ship, too.
Why? Because the ILO has adopted 68 different international standards since 1920. The ILO therefore set out to create principles that are “globally applicable, easily understandable, readily updatable and uniformly enforced.” Specifically, they apply to work hours, sleeping spaces, recreation, food, health care, and related matters.
Various member countries of the ILO, including the Marshall Islands and the Bahamas, have already ratified MLC 2006. When the minimum number of ratifications is reached, enforcement will begin within a year’s time. The ILO anticipates enough members will ratify it by the end of this year or early next year. That means the standards can go into effect as early as the end of 2012 or early 2013. With some exceptions, most megayachts whose keels are laid from that point forward will need to comply with MLC 2006.
Despite many MLC 2006 requirements, particularly work and rest, already in place in yachting, aspects still raise questions and confusion. This is why PYA invited the MCA to conduct the seminar. MCA representatives will inspect Red Ensign yachts for compliance, so the two-day discussion will cover the related issues. Topics include how to prepare for inspections, what inspections comprise, employment agreements, and complaint filing and procedures. Handouts and Q&A sessions will be part of the seminar. In addition, the MCA will provide Course Attendance Certificates to attendees.
Registration is €500 (about $722) per person, though organizations sending two or more individuals receive a 10-percent discount. To register, or to download the program, visit the event page on PYA’s website.
Ben Dover
How are the PYA and MCA going to teach a subject like the MLC when the UK flag has yet to ratify the Convention? They do not know what their final laws will be, so what are they going to teach? This is just another revenue stream for the old boys club.