Technical Circular No: 007/2025
1. Reference is made to IRS Technical Circular 021/2024 dated 16th September 2024 regarding 2022 amendments to Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.
2. The Indian flag Administration has now issued DGS Order No. 21 of 2024 providing following instructions on implementation of amended requirements as per above mentioned 2022 amendments to MLC 2006.
a. Amended paragraph 5(c)(vi) of Standard A1.4:
The Shipowners, Ship Managers and RPS agents are to ensure that the seafarers recruited onboard their vessels are informed about their rights applicable under Seafarer's Employment Agreement (SEA) and applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) prior to or in the process of engagement before signing on onboard ships and maintain necessary documentary records to satisfy the compliance.
b. Amended paragraph 17 of Standard A3.1:
The shipowners and the ship managers are to ensure that the seafarers are provided appropriate social connectivity (internet services) onboard as much as practically possible, taking into account the size, type, and area of the operation of the vessels, and maintain necessary documentary records to satisfy compliance.
c. Amended paragraph 4(j) of Guideline B3.1.11:
The Shipowners and Managers are to ensure that the seafarers are provided reasonable access to ship-to-shore telephone communications, where available, with any charges for the use of these services being reasonable in amount and maintain necessary documentary records to satisfy the compliance.
d. Amended Paragraph 2(a),2(b) and 7(a) of Standard A3.2:
The Shipowners and Managers are to ensure that the seafarers are:
i. Provided food and drinking water supplies, having regard to the number of seafarers on board, their religious requirements, and cultural practices as they pertain to food and the duration and nature of the voyage, are to be suitable in respect of quantity, nutritional value, quality, and variety, and to be provided free of charge during the period of engagement; including travelling to and from the ship;
ii. The organization and equipment of the catering department are to be such as to permit the provision to the seafarers of adequate, varied, balanced and nutritious meals prepared and served in hygienic conditions;
iii. Provide supplies of food and drinking water in relation to their quantity, nutritional value, quality, and variety; and maintain necessary documentary records to satisfy the compliance.
e. Amended Paragraph 1(b) of Standard A4.3:
The Shipowners and Managers are to ensure that reasonable precautions to prevent occupational accidents, injuries and diseases on board ship, including through the provision of all necessary appropriately-sized personal protective equipment and measures to reduce and prevent the risk of exposure to harmful levels of ambient factors and chemicals, as well as the risk of injury or disease that may arise from the use of equipment and machinery on board ships are provided and maintain necessary documentary records to satisfy the compliance.
4. Shipowners, Managers and Ship Master to take note of above compliance requirement to amendment to MLC, 2006 and are advised as follows:
a. To ensure that their policies, manuals and related documentation are suitably amended to reflect the new requirements.
b. Ensure timely renewal of existing Maritime Labour Certificates and DMLC Part I & Part II in consultation with the vessel’s Flag Administration or their RO.
5. Recruitment and Placement Services (RPS) are also advised to be guided by the above and to ensure that their procedures comply with the amended MLC requirements
Enclosure:
Disclaimer:
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.