UK Club members receive compliance resources for Maritime Labour Convention

The UK Club is providing a package of the International Shipping Federation's (ISF) guide publication "Guidelines on the Application of the ILO Maritime Labour Conventions (2nd edition)" and the Lloyds Register/UK Club "ILO MLC pocket checklist" free to all its members.

Both publications focus on helping employers ensure compliance with the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which enters into force in six months' time on 13 August.

UK Club Loss Prevention Director, Karl Lumbers, explained:

"The MLC represents a significant change to the regulation of employment terms and working conditions for seafarers. It consolidates and updates more than 65 international labour standards adopted over the last 80 years. For the first time, it creates a system of certification and inspection to enforce those standards.

"The vast majority of our members should not find it difficult to comply with MLC standards. But the system of enforcement is new and it would be frustrating for our owners to face detention due to simple teething problems with documentation or other proofs of compliance."

An important feature of the ISF Guidelines booklet is the insight it provides of the MLC certification process. The booklet includes a completed example of the new Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC) to demonstrate ongoing compliance as required by the ILO Convention. Guidance on the Port State Control procedure includes the list of standards that are inspected, a summary of the inspectors' powers and explanation of the grounds for more detailed inspections, or detention.

The Lloyds Register/UK Club checklist is enclosed in hard copy notebook format but it can also be downloaded as a smartphone app. The pocket checklist app serves as an interactive tool that enables ships' crews and their managers to view the requirements of the ILO MLC and check off required activities as they are completed. The app is free and available for iPhone, iPad, Android devices, Windows phone and BlackBerry.

The package addresses MLC requirements relating to seafarers' contractual arrangements, oversight of manning agencies, work and rest hours, health and safety, crew accommodation, catering standards and new requirements concerning on board complaints procedures. Compliance with all relevant standards can also be checked with a detailed checklist which can be printed via an accompanying CD.

UK Club members will be able to buy further copies of the guidelines with the benefit of a twenty per cent discount from the ISF headquarters

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Notes to editors:

UK P&I Club

The United Kingdom Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association (Bermuda) Limited is generally known as the UK P&I Club. As a mutual association, the UK Club has no outside shareholders and no financial links with other organisations. Since its establishment in 1869, the Club has existed solely for the benefit of its members. Its structure as a mutual insurance association enables it to respond to the changing needs of its assureds and allows it to provide superior service, attention and coverage.

The UK P&I Club is directed by the members. Overall control lies with the directors, elected by the members from amongst themselves. The directors normally meet four times a year to formulate policy on calls, the scope of cover, finance, underwriting and claims matters, reinsurance and issues affecting the P&I world. They resolve specific claims which may not fall clearly within the cover.

Thomas Miller, the Club's managers, is organised to respond promptly to requests for assistance and to provide informed advice and help with members' claims. Individual support goes far beyond that normally provided by a commercial insurer.

The UK Club's size and the scale of the managers' operations have enabled the latter to develop specialist skills and expertise seldom seen in marine P&I.

In 350 ports around the world, on-the-spot help and local expertise is always available to members and the masters of their ships from the Club's 460 correspondents and claims handling services and advice from the network of offices and branches in London, Piraeus, New Jersey, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai.

 
Thomas Miller

The Thomas Miller Group manages a number of world-leading mutual insurance organisations or "clubs," providing insurance for shipping, transport and professional indemnity risks; and captive insurance companies in the Isle of Man and Bermuda. Thomas Miller provides risk management consultancy services and, through its regulated specialist subsidiaries, delivers a full investment management service to mutual clubs, captives and other clients. The firm incorporated in 1999 and is owned and controlled by its 550 employees worldwide.

Issued by:

David Cheslin

Dunelm Public Relations

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On behalf of:

Nick Whitear

Thomas Miller P&I Ltd

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