Paris MoU Ready for Maritime Labor Convention

The Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MoU) held its 46th Committee meeting in Valletta, Malta, from May 20-24, 2013. The meeting was attended by members, the European Commission, EMSA, Montenegro, observers from the ILO, U.S. Coast Guard, Black Sea MoU, Caribbean MoU, Mediterranean MoU, Tokyo MoU and Vina del Mar Agreement.

The Committee adopted amendments to the Memorandum to include the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 as a relevant instrument. Guidelines for Port State Control under this Convention were also agreed, providing practical guidance for Port State Control Officers to inspect ships starting August 20, 2013.

Brian Hogan, the Chairman, stated, “The Paris MoU has always been supportive of verification of working and living conditions under the ILO Convention 147. With the introduction of the MLC2006 we are entering a new era to improve these conditions onboard.”

High importance was given to Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CICs). A CIC on Propulsion and Auxiliary Machinery has been scheduled from September to November this year, a CIC on hours of rest under the STCW Convention in 2014 and a CIC focussing on Crew Familiarization in 2015. The 2014 campaign will be carried out jointly with the Tokyo MoU. For 2015 this is pending agreement by the Tokyo MoU. In addition, the Committee considered a number of options for other joint CICs with the Tokyo MoU for 2016 and beyond. The report of the CIC on Fire Safety Systems, carried out in September, October and November of 2012, was presented to PSCC46. Concerns were expressed on the high percentage of CIC related detentions. The results will be published and submitted to the IMO next year.

The committee also agreed on PSC guidelines for the Ballast Water Management Convention. The proposed guidelines will be submitted to the IMO correspondence group of FSI for consideration. The Committee also considered the first results of the Harmonized Verification Program on operational safety of passenger ships.

Richard Schiferli, the Secretary General, said, “There have been approximately 100 of these inspections carried out in the first four months of this year. Only one inspection resulted in a HAVEP related detention. I appreciate the good cooperation with the cruise industry on this important campaign. First results are encouraging, but we have to wait until the end of the year to make an assessment of the results.”

The committee adopted the 2012 Annual Report, including the new White, Grey and Black List and the performance list of Recognized Organizations. This year Thailand and the United States of America moved from the “Grey List” to the “White List”. The lists will be published early June and used for targeting purposes starting July 1, 2013. The Annual Report will be published by the end of July this year.

On behalf of the Member States, Mr. Hogan concluded the meeting by thanking the European Commission/EMSA and the Paris MoU Secretariat for their contribution. In particular Mr. Hogan thanked the Maritime Administration of Malta, for the excellent arrangements they made for this committee meeting in Valletta.