MLC 2006 titles 1 to 5: regulations, guidance and information
Guidance on the 5 titles of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, and the regulations applying to UK ships under each one.
Overview
The International Labour Organization (ILO)’s Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 provides wide-ranging rights and protection at work for the world’s seafarers.
The MLC:
- sets minimum global standards for seafarers’ living and working conditions
- combines and updates more than 68 maritime-related international labour standards, produced over the last 80 years
- makes it easier for governments and ship owners to apply the system, and provide decent working conditions
The UK ratified (agreed to adopt) the MLC on 7 August 2013, with it coming into force on 7 August 2014.
MGN 471 (M) Amendment 2 MLC, 2006: definitions explains the UK’s understanding of important terms used in the MLC.
MGN 470 (M) Amendment 3 MLC, 2006: List of merchant shipping notices, marine guidance notes and marine information notes, lists all UK MLC supporting guidance.
How the MLC is organised
There are three main parts:
- articles, which set out the broad principles and responsibilities
- regulations, which set out the basic requirements
- the Code, made up of standards (Part A) and guidelines (Part B), which fall into the 5 titles
What the MLC covers
- Title 1: minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship - age, and medical and training certificates
- Title 2: conditions of employment – wages, working hours, rest and leave; career development
- Title 3: seafarers’ accommodation, leisure facilities, and on board catering standards
- Title 4: health and safety, medical care, access to on-shore welfare facilities
- Title 5: complaints, inspections, responsibilities of the flag and port states
What the MLC doesn’t cover
The convention doesn’t apply to:
- ships navigating only in inland waters
- ships navigating waters in, or close to, sheltered waters - or areas where port regulations apply
- ships involved in fishing
- ships of traditional build, such as dhows and junks
- warships or naval auxiliaries
- ships not normally used in commercial activities
MLC Statutory Instruments
SI 2014/1613 The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 applies to the following titles numbered; 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2
SI 2010/737 The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2010 applies to title 1.2.
SI 2018/58 The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 applies to the following titles numbered: 2.3 and 2.4.
SI 1997/2962 The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 applies to title 4.3
SI 2013/1785 The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2013 applies to the following titles numbered: 5.1 and 5.2
SI 2014/1615 The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Recruitment and Placement) Regulations 2014 applies to title; 1.4
MLC small commercial vessels
Information about small commercial vessels is published by the MCA. Please also refer to:
MGN 600 (M) Amendment 3 MLC inspection of coded vessels
MGN 601 (M) Amendment 1 MLC crew accommodation for small vessels of less than 200GT
Title 1: minimum requirements to work on a ship
Title 1, regulation 1.1: minimum age
“Purpose: to ensure that no under-age persons work on a ship.” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
MSN 1838 (M) Amendment 2 MLC, 2006: Minimum Age
The application of the minimum age provisions include all young seafarers, regardless of their employment status.
Title 1, regulation 1.2: medical certificates
“Purpose: to ensure that all seafarers are medically fit to perform their duties at sea.” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
Statutory Instrument 2010/737 gives guidance on applying the medical certification regulations.
Please also read ‘Seafarers: medical certification guidance’
Title 1, regulation 1.3: training and qualifications
“Purpose: to ensure that seafarers are trained or qualified to carry out their duties on board ship.” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
Refer to the Manila Amendments and additional merchant shipping notes below this paragraph, for information on how they affect seafarer training certificates for merchant navy officers, ratings, and yacht officers.
Other relevant guidance:
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MSN 1740 Training and Certification of Officers and Crew on High Speed Craft
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MSN 1856 (M+F) Amendment 1 Requirements for Master and Deck Officers
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MSN 1857 (M+F) Amendment 1 UK Requirements for Engineer Officers and Engineer Operators
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MSN 1864 (M) Amendment 1 Training and Certification Guidance: UK Requirements for Radio Operators
Further information
- The Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) provides information on education, training and skills for the shipping industry
- The Maritime Skills Alliance (MSA) develops the skills standards for the maritime sector
- The UK seafarer careers: training provision and information provides further details on seafarer training, certification, examinations and careers
Title 1, regulation 1.4: recruitment and placement
“Purpose: to ensure that seafarers have access to an efficient and well-regulated seafarer recruitment and placement system.” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
MGN 475 (M) Amendment 2 MLC, 2006: Recruitment and Placement
MGN 476 (M) Amendment 2 advice signing on non-MLC ratified country’s ships gives advice to seafarers about their protection, rights and entitlements under the MLC, 2006. This helps them decide if they should work on a ship registered with a non MLC-ratified country.
List of recruitment and placement agencies with voluntary certificates of conformity.
Title 2: conditions of employment
Title 2, regulation 2.1: Seafarers’ Employment Agreements (SEAs)
“Purpose: to ensure seafarers have a fair employment agreement.” (MLC, 2006)
MGN 477 (M) Amendment 5 MLC, 2006: Seafarers’ Employment Agreements
MGN 485 (M) Amendment 1 provides guidance on training agreements.
Recommended formats
Download and use these model formats as templates for your own documents;
- outer cover for list of crew and list of young persons (MSF 4156)
- list of crew and signatures of seafarers (MSF 4157)
- list of young persons (MSF 4158)
Use this for a seafarer agreement as a basis for your documents.
Title 2, regulation 2.2: wages
“Purpose: to ensure seafarers are paid for their services.” (MLC, 2006)
Guidance
MGN 478(M) Amendment 1 MLC, 2006: Seafarer’s Wages
Title 2, regulation 2.3: hours of work and rest, and 2.4: entitlement to leave
“Purpose: to ensure that seafarers have regulated hours of work, or hours of rest”, and “…to ensure that seafarers have adequate leave.” (MLC, 2006).
Regulations and guidance
SI 2018/58 Merchant Shipping (Hours of Work) Regulations
MSN 1877 (M) Amendment 2 Maritime labour convention 2006, hours of work and entitlement to leave gives information about applying the regulations to do with seafarers’ hours of work and entitlement to leave.
Title 2, regulation 2.5: repatriation
“Purpose: to ensure that seafarers are able to return home.” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
Part 6 of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 outlines the provisions for repatriation and costs pending repatriation.
MGN 479 (M) Amendment 1 MLC, 2006: Repatriation of seafarers.
Title 2, regulation 2.6: seafarer compensation for the ship’s loss or foundering
“Purpose: to ensure that seafarers are compensated when a ship is lost or had foundered” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
Part 10 of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc) Regulations 2014 gives further information about the right to seafarers compensation if a ship is lost or foundered.
See also MGN 480 (M) Amendment 3 MLC, 2006: Shipowners’ liabilities including seafarer compensation.
Title 2, regulation 2.7: manning levels
“Purpose: to ensure that seafarers work on board ships with sufficient personnel for the safe, efficient and secure operation of the ship/” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
SI 2022/1342: The (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022
SI 1997/1320: ‘The (Safe Manning, Hours of Work and Watchkeeping) Regulations 1997’, except regulations 6 to 10.
Read MSN 1877 Amendment 2 Maritime labour convention 2006, hours of work and entitlement to leave and MSN 1868 (M) Amendment 1 UK Requirements for Safe Manning and Watchkeeping for information and guidance on the hours of work, safe manning and watchkeeping regulations.
Apply for a safe manning document (MSF 4227)
Title 2, regulation 2.8: career and skill development; opportunities for seafarers’ employment
“Purpose: to promote career and skill development and employment opportunities for seafarers” (MLC, 2006)
Career and skill development: further information
Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB)
Maritime Skills Alliance (MSA)
Title 3: accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering
Title 3, regulation 3.1: crew accommodation and recreational facilities
“Purpose: to ensure that seafarers have decent accommodation and recreational facilities on board” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
Read chapters 21A and 21B in Part A of the REG Yacht Code for details of seafarer’s accommodation standards on large commercial yachts, equivalent to those required by the MLC.
MSN 1895 (M) The Red Ensign Group (REG) Yacht Code Part A
MSN 1844 (M) Amendment 1 MLC, 2006: Crew Accommodation
MGN 481 (M) Amendment 1 MLC, 2006: Crew Accommodation - Supplementary Guidance
MGN 601(M) Amendment 1 MLC crew accommodation for small vessels of less than 200GT
MGN 602 (M) Amendment 1 MLC Substantial Equivalence for Crew Accommodation for 200GT to 500GT
Title 3, regulation 3.2: food and catering
“Purpose: to ensure that seafarers have access to good quality food and drinking water provided under regulated hygienic conditions.” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
MSN 1845 (M) Amendment 2 MLC, 2006: Food & Catering - Provision of Food and Fresh Water
MSN 1846 (M) Amendment 1 MLC, 2006: Food & Catering - Ships Cooks and Catering Staff
MIN 689 (M) Amendment 3 MLC 2006: Food & Catering-recognised qualifications
MSF 4395 - Application for Ships Cooks Certificate of Competency
Title 4: health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection
Title 4, regulation 4.1: medical care aboard ship and ashore
“Purpose: To protect the health of seafarers and ensure their prompt access to medical care on board ship at shore.” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
MGN 482 (M) Amendment 2 MLC, 2006: Medical Care
MGN 623 (M+F) Telemedical advice service (TMAS) for ships at sea provides information on getting radio medical advice when a medical incident or emergency arises while at sea.
MGN 296 (M) Medication at sea outlines the possible effects of prescription or over-the-counter drugs on a seafarer’s performance while working at sea.
MSN 1841 (M) Amendment 2 MLC 2006: medical care ship’s doctors provides information on the qualifying criteria for a medical practitioner to work as a ship’s doctor on a UK ship.
Confidential medical report form (MSF 4155)
MSN 1905 (M+F) Amendment 5 ships’ medical stores gives information on applying these SIs, and lists the medical stores to be carried.
1995/1802: The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessel (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995
Title 4, regulation 4.2: shipowners’ liability
“Purpose: To ensure that seafarers are protected from the financial consequences of sickness, injury or death occurring in connection with their employment.” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
Part 10A of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 sets out the requirement for security against shipowner’s liability for death or long term disability of seafarers.
Title 4, regulation 4.3: health and safety protection and accident prevention
“Purpose: To ensure that seafarers’ work environment on board ships promotes occupational safety and health” (MLC, 2006)
MSN 1850 (M) Amendment 1 MLC, 2006: Health and Safety Reporting of Occupational Diseases
MSF 4159 Occupational disease report form for UK registered merchant ships.
Regulations and guidance
SI 1997/2962: The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations1997
SI 2012/1743: The Merchant Shipping (Accident and Investigation) Regulations 2012
MGN 636 (M) Amendment 4 health and safety at work regulations 1997 is about the requirements of the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations.
See the ‘Code of safe working practices for merchant seafarers (COSWP).
MCA health and safety leaflets and posters Search Articles - Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Safety materials ordering service.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is currently updating its health and safety products.
Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)
Title 4, regulation 4.4: access to shore-based welfare facilities
“Purpose: To ensure that seafarers working on board a ship, have access to shore-based facilities and services to secure their health and well-being” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
MGN 486 (M+F) Amendment 3 access to shore based welfare facilities about the UK’s arrangements for seafarers’ welfare under the MLC, 2006.
MGN 370 (M+F) Amendment 2 the Dreadnought Medical Service, St Thomas’ Hospital, London for information about the Dreadnought Medical Service for seafarers, given at Guy’s Hospital and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London.
Seafarers’ organisations
International Committee on Seafarers Welfare
The Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB)
The Dreadnought Unit at Guy’s and St Thomas’ (NHS Foundation Trust)
Seafarers Advice and Information Line (S.A.I.L)
Title 4, regulation 4.5: social security
“Purpose: To ensure that measures are taken with a view to providing seafarers with access to social security protection.” (MLC, 2006)
Seafarers and National Insurance: Enquiries
Title 5: compliance and enforcement
Title 5, regulation 5.1: Flag State responsibilities
“Purpose: to ensure that each Member implements its responsibilities under this Convention with respect to ships that fly its flag.” (MLC, 2006)
Regulations and guidance
MSN 1848 (M) Amendment 4 Maritime Labour Convention survey and certification of UK ships
- survey
- inspection
- certification
of seafarers’ living and working conditions on UK ships, in line with the MLC.
Download the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC) part I
Download the DMLC part II: maritime labour certificate (MSF 2401) and guidance
Complaints procedure for seafarers
Before doing anything else, you have to follow the on-board complaints procedure, as outlined in MSN 1849 (M) Amendment 1 MLC, 2006 on-board complaint procedures.
If you’re on a ship in a UK port and the complaint isn’t resolved, you can make an on-shore complaint to MCA.
There’s more guidance about making on-shore complaints under ‘Regulation 5.2: Port State responsibilities’.
Substantial equivalents
MGN 472 (M) Amendment 4 MLC applying for a substantial equivalence MLC 2006; Guidance on the procedure for applying for substantial equivalents.
See Annex A for the list of substantial equivalences approved by the MLC Tripartite Working Group.
For further information on these topics, or to have another ‘substantial equivalent’ considered, email; mlc@mcga.gov.uk.
Title 5, regulation 5.2: Port State responsibilities
“Purpose: To enable each member to implement its responsibilities under this Convention regarding international co-operation in the implementation and enforcement of the Convention standards on foreign ships.” (MLC, 2006)
Please see MGN 487 Amendment 2 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 On-shore complaints for the on-shore complaints process.
Send the details of your on-shore complaint to: email mlc@mcga.gov.uk
Updates to this page
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MLC 2006, Titles 1 - 5 regulation and guidance information references have been updated.
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Updated reference from MSN 1768 to MSN 1905 and MIN 659
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Updated model seafarer employment agreement (SEA) 20 August 2020, as referenced under item 2.1 recommended formats.
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Updated Title 5, to include a link to MSN 1848 (M) amendment 2 seafarers living and working conditions.
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LInks repaired and new corrigendum added
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Changes to links for MGN 480 and SI 2018/58
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Updated link to MSN 1848 (M) Amendment 1: Seafarer Working & Living Conditions on UK Ships
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Ref to MGN 517 deleted as archived
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Updated - additional information provided under title 5 - MGN 472: MLC 2006 Guidance on the procedure for applying for a Substantial Equivalence.
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Update Title 3 - SI 2015/782 The Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2015
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Update; MLC Small Commercial Vessels, MGN 490 (Amend) & MGN 491 (Amend).
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Updated: SI 2014/1616 The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Health and Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2014
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Updated Model format for a seafarer employment agreement (SEA) 11 March 2015
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MGN 490, MGN 491 and MGN 517 added (30/07/14)
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MLC regulations now in force
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First published.