The impact of the Maritime Labor Convention on seafarers’ working and living conditions: an analysis of port state control statistics

Abstract

Background The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC2006) entered into force in August 2013 and is a milestone for better working and living conditions (WLC) for seafarers. As of March 2020, 96 countries have ratified the MLC2006, covering more than 90% of the world’s shipping fleet. A system of port state control (PSC) allows ratifying countries to inspect any foreign ship arriving in their ports for compliance with the convention. It is intended as a second safety measure for the identification of substandard ships that sail all over the world. Nine regional agreements, so-called Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), have been signed to coordinate and standardize PSC inspections and to increase efficiency by sharing inspections and information. This paper uses public PSC statistics to evaluate the impact of the MLC2006. Methods A preliminary analysis using registered tonnage and MLC2006 ratification was conducted and seven MoU were selected for the analysis. The annual reports of these MoU have been viewed in September 2019. Numbers on annual inspections, deficiencies and detentions and in particular data for deficiencies related to living and working conditions and certificates and documents, have been extracted and analyzed for the years 2010 to 2017. Results Across the eight-year period analyzed, inspection numbers remained stable among all MoU authorities. Deficiencies overall and deficiencies related to WLC declined, indicating an improvement in conditions overall and an increased focus on seafarers’ conditions on board. After the MLC2006 entered into force, three MoU reported WLC-ratios above 14%, while the numbers didn’t rise above 10% in the other four authorities. Deficiencies related to certificates and documents did not rise significantly between 2010 and 2017. Two European MoU showed the highest ratios for deficiencies in both categories analyzed. Conclusion The analysis confirmed that an increasing attention is being paid to the inspection of working and living conditions, especially in European countries. However, a clear positive impact of the MLC2006 could not be determined from the PSC statistics in this analysis. A large variation still exists among the MoU, a fact that demands increased efforts for harmonization of PSC procedures.

Water transport employment

“…A study that analysed PSC data found that the average number of MLC-related deficiencies per inspection declined from 2010 to 2017. This implies an improvement in conditions overall and an increased focus on seafarers' conditions on board (Fotteler et al, 2020). The same study could not establish that this improvement in seafarers' conditions was due to implementing the MLC, 2006.…”

“…The same study could not establish that this improvement in seafarers' conditions was due to implementing the MLC, 2006. Its authors remarked that several issues remain for seafarers, which the MLC, 2006 fails to adequately address (Fotteler et al 2020) without specifying which issues remain. 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005…”

Conflict Related Incidents on Board Ships: An Online News Content Analysis

“…Following its implementation in 2006, studies show that MLC related detentions increased with the main reason for detention being on "accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering" and "conditions of employment" (Grbic et al 2015). In addition, overall deficiencies, as well as deficiencies related to work and living conditions, have declined, thereby indicating an overall improvement in conditions and an increased focus on seafarers' conditions on board (Fotteler et al, 2020). On the other hand, there are also studies that criticise the impact of MLC on improvement of working conditions, in which the subjects of the study (Danish seafarers) stated the impact of the convention on working conditions were minimal, and in some cases, none to be reported (Fotteler et al, 2018).…”

A Comparative Analysis between K-Means and Agglomerative Clustering Techniques in Maritime Skill Certification

“…The strict criteria established by the International Convention on Criteria of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) regulate this complete training approach. The convention is critical to ensuring maritime safety and environmental stewardship by establishing minimum certification criteria for seafarers [2], [3]. By meeting and exceeding these regulatory benchmarks, the COP not only complies with legislative mandates but also instils trust in the competency of maritime professionals among shipping companies, insurers, and regulatory bodies, resulting in smoother operations and fewer maritime mishaps [4].…”