Page 108 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2022

not of appropriate quality, quantity, and nutri-
tional value, and seafarers were not provided
with adequate medical care after being injured
onboard.
During Part II of the fourth meeting of the Spe-
cial Tripartite Committee (STC) of the Maritime
Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) held
from 5 to 13 May 2022, amendments to MLC
2006 and resolutions were adopted, entering
into force by December 2024. Seafarers won
significant concessions during the negotiations
on the amendments to the MLC 2006 related
to connectivity, food, and personal protective
equipment.
The New MLC Amendments were adopted to
ensure that:
• Seafarers will have the appropriate per-
sonal protective equipment (PPE) to pre-
vent occupational accidents, injuries, and
diseases on board;
• Appropriate measures will be in place to
prevent or reduce the risk of exposure to
harmful levels of ambient factors and chem-
icals and minimise the risk of injury or illness
that may arise from the use of equipment
and machinery on board ships
The East Mediterranean and the Black Sea • Food and drinking water supplies will be:
region account for most shipping incidents adequate in quantity, nutritional value,
over the past decade (18% or 4,763 incidents). quality, and variety, sufficient for the num-
Globally, most incidents have been caused by ber of seafarers on board and the duration
machinery damage or failure (9,968), followed and nature of the voyage; appropriate for
by collision (3,134), contact (2,029), piracy (1,995) their religious requirements and cultural
and fire/explosion (1,747). practices concerning food; provided free
Finally, while total ship losses have dramatically of charge during the period of their employ-
improved over the last decade, the problem with ment onboard.
the loss of large container ships (X-Press Pearl) • States will further facilitate the prompt
and car carrier ships (Felicity Ace) due to fire repatriation of abandoned seafarers.
remains a major headache for those involved • States will provide medical care to sea-
in shipping, especially insurers. Although there farers needing immediate assistance and
is no reliable solution to the problem, several facilitate the repatriation of the remains of
prototype fire prevention and fighting systems seafarers who have died on board. Seafarers
are being tested, and we are awaiting the results will be informed of their rights relating to
of these evaluations. the obligation of recruitment and placement
services to compensate seafarers for mon-
MLC AMENDMENTS 2022 etary losses.
We have been reading about many cases of ves- • All deaths of seafarers will be recorded and
sels being detained and banned from countries reported annually to the ILO, and the rele-
due to MLC breaches. One such example is the vant data will be published.
Liberian-flagged oil tanker, AG Neptune. On • Seafarers will be informed of their rights
17 June 2022, the Australian Maritime Safety regarding the obligation of recruitment and
Authority (AMSA) banned the vessel from enter- placement services to compensate seafar-
ing Australian ports for six months after receiv- ers for monetary losses.
ing a complaint regarding the underpayment of The adopted amendments will be implemented
seafarers and other welfare issues. by the Flag States. Therefore, Companies should
During the inspection, the AMSA found evidence seek information from their respective flag
that the seafarers’ employment agreement had State(s) to update their existing Safety Man-
not been met, the food and drinking water were agement System procedures.

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