Antigua and Barbuda Maritime Labour Convention (2006) Report 2015
Introduction
The report takes into consideration the guidance contained in MLC B5.1.4/10 and meets the requirements of the MLC Standard A5.1.4/13. The statistics contained in this report are concerned only with vessels to which the MLC applies. This report covers the calendar year from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2015.
Antigua and Barbuda ratified the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) on August 8th 2011 and it came into effect on 20th August 2013.
The Website http://www.abregistry.ag contains useful information with respect to MLC under the seafarers and information center sections.
Antigua and Barbuda Regulations
The most relevant legislation with respect to MLC are as follows:
The following directives are also relevant:
Related Circulars have been issued on the following subjects:
The Antigua and Barbuda MLC Inspection System
For Antigua & Barbuda registered ships to which the MLC applies, the Antigua & Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS) is the “Competent Authority” as defined in Article II(a) of the MLC and is responsible for implementing Antigua & Barbuda’s obligations under the MLC.
In accordance with the MLC Regulations the following inspections are carried out:
There are presently no recruitment and placement services based in Antigua & Barbuda pursuant to the requirement of MLC A1.4/2.
Inspections may also be carried out under the following circumstances:-
ADOMS utilizes Inspectors from the following Recognized Organizations (ROs) to conduct inspections:
These organizations utilize exclusive surveyors who have been trained to carry out MLC inspections in accordance with the requirements of MLC A5.1.4 and MLC B5.1.4. The performance of these recognized organizations is monitored by occasional auditing by ADOMS with preliminary audits having been conducted during 2014.
Inspections are conducted for each registered ship to which MLC applies at intervals not exceeding 3 years in compliance with MLC A5.1.4/4.
Inspections conducted in 2015
Antigua & Barbuda registered ships were inspected as follows:
310 Inspections of the following types were conducted by Recognized Organizations on behalf of ADOMS
Initial | Renewal | Additional | Interim | TOTAL |
202 | 5 | 16 | 87 | 310 |
Deficiency and Observation categorization
MLC Regulation | Deficiencies and Observations |
1.1 | - |
1.2 | 5 |
1.3 | - |
1.4 | 2 |
2.1 | 21 |
2.2 | 1 |
2.3 | 16 |
2.4 | 1 |
2.5 | - |
2.7 | - |
3.1 | 29 |
3.2 | 18 |
4.1 | 8 |
4.2 | 1 |
4.3 | 5 |
4.5 | 1 |
5.1.1 | 1 |
5,1,3 | 2 |
5.1.5 | 5 |
TOTAL | 116 |
It is encouraging that with more inspections carried out than in the previous year there was a reduction in deficiencies and observations with 4.3 – Health and Safety and 2.4 Wages being areas with a good reduction. Unfortunately 2.3 Hours of Rest and 3.2 Food and Catering have not seen a corresponding improvement.
Foreign Flag Vessels were inspected as follows:
Port State Control Inspections were conducted in Antigua on 40 foreign flag vessels with 30 MLC related deficiencies being raised; 11 of these deficiencies related to Working and Living conditions. 6 of these deficiencies related to Hours of Rest recording and monitoring. Whilst this is an improvement over the previous year there were still cases where hours of rest recorded by electronic systems do not calculate compliance correctly. Often the use of any 24 hour period is not fully understood. The Caribbean MOU conducted a concentrated Inspection Campaign on Hours of Rest from 1st September to 30th November 2015. SEA’s and DMLC part II’s were also found having an incorrect or missing name and address of the ship-owner in 10 cases. The remaining 3 cases involved expired MLC certificates and medical certificates not signed by the seafarer.
Seafarers
During 2015 flag state endorsement of certification for 5104 Seafarers at the management level and 1815 Seafarers at the operational level was undertaken.
At the end of 2015 there were:
The first comments of the ILO supervisory body on effective implementation of the MLC are being reviewed and acted on with a view to giving a detailed reply as requested in 2016