Features

2008

1. 

   Getting ships in shape

   As shipping increases, so does the need for more port State control

   09 October 2008

   In response to an oil spill that fouled the west coast of France in 1978, European ministers took decisive action to establish a regional system for inspections of foreign ships in 1982. Yet the growing numbers of ship detentions in many ports worldwide show the continuous need for a global system of regular port inspections. From 22-26 September, more than 300 government, ship owner and seafarer representatives met at the ILO to adopt new guidelines on port state control under the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006. In this special report, ILO Online shows how inspections work and why they are needed.

2. 

   Maritime Labour Convention

   Maritime Labour Convention: Setting sail for a decent future

   10 September 2008

   When the ILO adopted the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 in February 2006, Director-General Juan Somavia called it “making labour history” for the world’s more than 1.2 million seafarers. Two years on, the MLC has been ratified by three key flag states representing nearly 20 per cent of the world’s gross tonnage with many more ratifications and industry agreements already under way. A five-year ILO action plan designed to achieve entry into force by 2011 is moving forward this month with two key tripartite experts’ meetings to adopt guidelines for flag State inspections and port State control officers. The ILO reports from the “City of London”, where the MLC is already being put to the test.

2006

1. 

   Article

   Maritime Session of the International Labour Conference (7-23 February 2006): "labour history": ILO adopts new consolidated maritime Convention

   23 February 2006

   The consolidated Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 adopted by the ILO today is a ground-breaking, comprehensive global legal instrument concerning maritime labour standards for the world's ship owners, seafarers and maritime nations. The new Convention will not only address the need for decent working conditions for the world's more than 1.2 million seafarers, but may also provide the impetus and support for similar innovative and balanced approaches in other sectors. ILO Online spoke with Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, Director of the ILO's International Labour Standards Department, about the new Convention.

2. 

   Article

   Maritime Session of the International Labour Conference (7-23 February 2006): A new standard for the global shipping industry

   02 February 2006

   Nearly 1.2 million seafarers work for the world's shipping industry. The ILO now heads for a new Maritime Labour Convention reflecting the needs of a globalized shipping industry. If adopted, the standard will consolidate and update more than 65 international labour standards adopted over the last 80 years. ILO Online spoke with Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, Director of the ILO's International Labour Standards Department, about the new Convention.

3. Article

   Maritime Session of the International Labour Conference (7-23 February 2006): The global seafarer: mixed fortunes mirror global trends

   29 January 2006

   Nearly 1.2 million seafarers work for the world's shipping industry. Aboard the world's cruise ships, crews often represent 20 nationalities or more. While the current shipbuilding boom has created strong demand for officers worldwide, the trend towards increasingly automated vessels also reduces the need for ratings. The ILO now heads for a new Maritime Labour Convention reflecting the needs of a globalized shipping industry. If adopted, the standard will consolidate and update more than 65 international labour standards adopted since the 1920s. Journalist Ian Gill reports from the Philippines.