Standard Club to Host MLC Seminar in Istanbul

The Standard Club will address an audience of over 120 Turkish shipowner representatives and brokers on the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) at a seminar at the Turkish Chamber of Shipping in Istanbul on Wednesday, November 6, 2013. Turkey is expected to ratify the MLC in the near future. The seminar will also cover other current topics of interest to shipowners including Electronic Bills of Lading.

The MLC 2006, which came into force on August, 20 2013, is currently ratified by 47 countries representing 76pc of the world’s gross tonnage. Oliver Hutchings, Syndicate Claims Director, and Simon Hart, Claims Executive will provide an update on how Turkish shipowners can meet the requirements of the MLC, including the new obligation on owners to provide financial security for crew repatriation costs.

Standard Club members are required to comply with flag states’ requirements. The club also recommends that members voluntarily comply with the MLC even if their flag state is yet to ratify it.

Commenting on the event Oliver Hutchings, Syndicate Claims Director said, “The MLC is the most important international agreement on labor in the shipping industry to be introduced in recent years. We have already seen ships of countries that have ratified the convention detained for not being compliant. It is vital that shipowners and masters understand what is required of them under the convention.”

Additionally, James Bean, Syndicate Director, will present the latest advice on electronic bills of lading. The club has received an increasing number of enquiries from members who are being asked to use electronic bills of lading by their charterers. The presentation will be based upon the club’s recent FAQs published in August 2013 which provided guidance to members on the topic, focusing on the club’s position on cover.

James Bean, Syndicate Director, said, “The Standard Club has built a strong reputation for its informative events which are one of the ways we help members stay abreast of current shipping and P&I issues. Our aim is to raise issues occurring in the industry, discuss the challenges faced by owners and explain the complexities they face in today’s shipping world.”

The program for the seminar is as follows:
6 p.m.: Arrival and refreshments
6:30 p.m.: Welcome and thanks - John Reily, Director of Underwriting
6:35 p.m.: Club update - Colin Fowles, Underwriter
6:50 p.m.: Presentations on The Maritime Labor Convention - Oliver Hutchings, Syndicate Claims Director and Simon Hart, Claims Executive; Electronic bills of lading - James Bean, Syndicate Director
7:30 p.m.: Drinks reception and buffet at the Sardunya restaurant

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