OREANDA-NEWS. Novoship tanker NS Columbus became the first Sovcomflot Group vessel to receive a certificate of compliance with the International Labour Organisation’s 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC-2006). On 21 February, 2013, the Aframax crude oil tanker NS Columbus underwent an inspection by the Maritime Authority and was declared to be in full compliance with the regulations of the convention. The document granted will be valid until 20 February, 2018. This certificate confirms that the company-operator follows best practices in the observance of sailors’ rights, the provision of proper living and working conditions, and the granting of social safeguards.

 “The ILO’s Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 will enter into force this year. SCF fleet has long been prepared for this event: every vessel has a declaration stating its compliance with labour standards at sea and this document is an integral part of the MLC-2006 certificate. We will gradually make other our ships available to inspectors and plan to receive the remaining certificates we require for all our vessels, whose personnel management is handled by Novoship. This process will be completed within the next three months.” – Oleg Stepanov, Head of Personnel Management at OAO Novoship, Head of SCF Staffing Centre in the south of Russia.

 Sovcomflot Group’s management team expressed its gratitude to the tanker’s crew and gave its personal congratulations to captain Dmitry Kushnarenko on successfully passing the inspection.

Background information:

 The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) was approved on 23 February, 2006, at the 94th Session of the General Conference of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Once it comes into force alongside SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW conventions, MLC-2006 will become one of the main international normative documents regulating activity in the shipping industry. This convention includes a range of standards governing working and living conditions for sailors, as well as guidance on how governments and ship-owners should ensure the provision of these conditions.

 On 20 August, 2012, The International Labour Organisation accepted documents from the governments of the Russian Federation and the Philippines ratifying the Maritime Labour Convention. Thereby, a total of 30 states had ratified the convention, representing approximately 60% of global shipping (gross world tonnage). The receipt of its 30th ratification meant that MLC-2006 had satisfied its final requirement. It will now come into force on 20 August, 2013.

 Once MLC-2006 enters into force, every state that has ratified the convention will require that vessels sailing under its flag possess and regularly renew their MLC certificates and declarations regarding their adherence to working standards at sea. Declarations must include national requirements that ensure compliance with MLC-2006 regulations in regard to the living and working conditions of sailors, and set out measures taken by the ship-owner to provide these conditions aboard an approved vessel.