Under the new agreement, states party to the Maritime Labour Convention would have to ensure that all vessels flying their flag maintained a financial safety net to reimburse crew and their families in the event of abandonment, illness, injury or death. The measures, which were agreed upon at the MLC’s Special Tripartite Committee last week, will now have to be submitted to the International Labour Conference in June. If member states do not register disagreement during the following six months, the provisions will come into force.
“It is in everybody’s interest to press ahead without delay,” Seacurus managing director Thomas Brown stated. “Any attempt at unreasonable delay in implementing the MLC amendments should be strongly resisted.
“The requirement for cover will be mandatory on all shipowners, thereby eliminating any uncertainty. Moreover, such cover already exists in the form of the CrewSEACURE policy created last year by Seacurus which provides indemnification in the event of the financial default of seafarers’ employers, and offers recompense in respect of unpaid crew wages. The policy will enable all employers of seafarers to meet their regulatory obligations under MLC 2006. The cover is available now, and it is affordable.”
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