The 2022 Amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) entered into force on 23 December 2024. These amendments introduce new obligations for both MLC Member States and shipowners.
Therefore, shipowners should review their existing procedures and onboard practices to ensure continued compliance.
Key Requirements for Shipowners
1. Recreational Facilities and Social Connectivity
(Standard A3.1 and Guideline B3.1.11)
Shipowners must ensure that recreational facilities on board support social connectivity. In particular, vessels should provide reasonable access to:
- Ship-to-shore telephone communications, where available
- Internet access for seafarers
Moreover, any charges applied for these services must remain reasonable. These measures aim to improve crew welfare and mental well-being, especially during long voyages.
2. Food and Drinking Water
(Standard A3.2)
Shipowners must provide food and drinking water free of charge. Meals must be:
- Nutritious and balanced
- Of sufficient quantity and quality
- Prepared under hygienic conditions
In addition, food preparation must respect the religious and cultural practices of the seafarers on board. Proper catering standards remain a key focus area during MLC inspections.
3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
(Standard A4.3)
Shipowners must provide all seafarers with appropriately sized personal protective equipment. This requirement supports the prevention of:
- Occupational accidents
- Injuries
- Work-related diseases
As a result, PPE management procedures should include size availability, replacement criteria, and proper record keeping.
4. Financial Security Documentation
(Appendix A2-1 and Appendix A4-1)
The required certificates or documentary evidence of financial security under:
- Standard A2.5.2 (Repatriation)
- Standard A4.2.1 (Shipowners’ liability)
may now include the name of the registered owner of the ship. This applies when the registered owner differs from the shipowner. Consequently, shipowners should verify that onboard certificates reflect this updated option.
Flag State Guidance and DMLC Considerations
At the time of writing, no specific instructions have been issued by Member States regarding amendments to the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC) Part I.
However, shipowners should:
- Monitor Flag State circulars and publications
- Review DMLC Part II and related procedures
- Ensure onboard practices fully address the 2022 amendments
Proactive monitoring remains essential to avoid deficiencies during inspections.
Recent and Previous MLC Amendments – Overview
Financial Security – 2014 Amendments
The 2014 amendments, in force since 18 January 2017, require ships to carry documentary evidence of financial security covering:
- Abandonment of seafarers
- Shipowners’ contractual liability
These certificates must remain valid and available on board at all times.
Protection of Seafarers – 2016 Amendments
The 2016 amendments, which entered into force on 8 January 2019, strengthened protections against:
- Shipboard harassment
- Bullying
Additionally, these amendments allow an extension of the validity of Maritime Labour Certificates when renewal inspections are completed but new certificates cannot be issued immediately.
How We Can Support You
Marine Surveyor Consultant Sagl provides technical and regulatory advisory services to vessels operating under the Liberia Flag Registry.
In particular, we support shipowners with:
- MLC compliance reviews
- DMLC Part II alignment
- Pre-inspection readiness and corrective action planning
Therefore, shipowners and operators are encouraged to contact us for tailor-made solutions aligned with Flag State requirements and operational realities.
