Shipping: Standards & rights at work

Inspections of ships - flag state and port state control

The inspection of ships to verify the implementation of international maritime labour standards has been a major means of improving the conditions of work of seafarers for many years.

Flag states have the responsibility to verify the implementation of national laws and regulations which apply the international Conventions on ships flying their national flag. See the following ILO Convention of the inspections of ships:

• C178 Labour Inspection (Seafarers) Convention, 1996. Ratifications.
• R185 Labour Inspection (Seafarers) Recommendation, 1996.

Since its entry into force in 1981, by virtue of the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No.147), flag states which have ratified this Convention must:

"verify by inspection or other appropriate means that ships registered in its territory comply with applicable international labour Conventions in force which it has ratified, with the laws and regulations required by subparagraph (a) of this Article and, as may be appropriate under national law, with applicable collective agreements".

Those states may also exercise their right to " port state control ", that is inspect foreign vessels after receiving a complaint or obtaining evidence that the ship does not conform to the standards of this Convention. They may also take measures necessary to rectify any conditions on board which are clearly hazardous to safety or health, including detention measures.

Additional resources

• C147 Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976. Ratifications.
• The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 establishes a more comprehensive system for the verification of the application of international standards on conditions of work and life of seafarers contained in that Convention. See Title 5. Compliance and Enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs)

• Black Sea MOU
• Caribbean MOU
• Indian Ocean MOU
• Mediterranean MOU
• Paris MOU
• Tokyo MOU
• Viña del Mar Agreement

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