Concentrated Inspection Campaign of Paris MOU starts on 1 sept 2024

The upcoming Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) for the period of 1 September to 30 November 2024 will focus on safeguarding the fundamental rights of seafarers while on board, specifically in relation to crew wages and Seafarer Employment Agreements (SEAs) under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).

Statistics reveal that, across three different topics, most findings in this area align with the following examples:

Seafarer Employment Agreements (SEAs)

The seafarer does not have access to the SEA, as it is not provided in English and may have expired or been extended without their consent. Additionally, any amendments to the SEA have not been signed by the seafarer and it does not meet the requirements of the MLC. Furthermore, the seafarer may be in a different or higher position than originally agreed upon in the SEA, and there is a lack of information regarding the employment agreement within the SEA.

Wages 

Monthly wages are not disbursed, and no information is provided regarding wages paid in the Standard Employment Agreement (SEA). Additionally, wages are not in compliance with the SEA or the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and no monthly statement is provided to the seafarer. Furthermore, deductions for wages are not in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).

Financial security 2014 amendments 

On-board certificates for financial security in the event of repatriation or compensation for death and long-term disability are unavailable.

Management systems and PSC

As a result of new international standards, PSC inspections will now encompass not only technical concerns, but also employ a more comprehensive method to assess the implementation of a vessel’s management system. Areas for improvement may include technical problems (such as malfunctions caused by inadequate maintenance) and operational issues (such as crew training or lack of awareness of malfunctions). In recent years, deficiencies in ISM compliance have consistently been the top reason for ship detentions.

The CIC is included in routine PSC inspections, and the PSC Officer in charge may expand the inspection to cover additional aspects of the vessel or crew, such as records of rest hours or training. Additionally, certain non-detainable deficiencies related to MLC may potentially result in an ISM deficiency (PSC Code 15150), which may result in a reason for detention.

Guidance and a checklist can be found here.

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