Table Of ContentMaritime Work Law Fundamentals:
Responsible Shipowners, Reliable Seafarers
·
Iliana Christodoulou-Varotsi Dmitry A. Pentsov
Maritime Work
Law Fundamentals:
Responsible Shipowners,
Reliable Seafarers
123
Dr.IlianaChristodoulou-Varotsi DmitryA.Pentsov
P.O.BOX65533 Geneva,Switzerland
PostCode15402 [email protected]
N.Psychiko,Greece
[email protected]
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Foreword
The importance of international maritime labour law - both as a component of in-
ternational maritime law, and in socio-political and economic terms - has been
recognised by the IMO International Maritime Law Institute for a number of
years. Indeed, the Institute has annually organised a course on maritime labour law
with the participation of inter alia the International Maritime Organization, the In-
ternational Labour Organization, the International Transport Workers’ Federation,
and the German Shipowners’ Association.
It was therefore a great pleasure when the authors invited me to introduce their
forthcoming monograph on Maritime Work Law Fundamentals: Responsible Shi-
powners Reliable Seafarers. As the title suggests, a fundamental challenge of this
branch of international maritime law is to achieve a balance between the interests
of the two main stakeholders. Institutionally, the effort to achieve this balance
dates back a number of decades with its genesis mainly found in the work of the
International Labour Organization. It has to be said that whilst this effort achieved
great progress, it has led to a haphazard, plethora of legal instruments.
Between 1920 and 1996, the International Labour Organization adopted some
sixty-six instruments relating to seafarers’ conditions of work. These texts were
criticised as a number became less relevant over the years. These doubts are re-
flected in the fact that the instruments were unevenly enforced and very often not
widely adhered to. This precarious situation led the International Labour Organi-
zation – some ten years ago – to review its maritime labour instruments with the
scope of making them more relevant to the contemporary needs of stakeholders.
This process culminated in the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006, which con-
solidated the pre-existing legal texts on maritime labour and brought clarity and
order in this branch of international maritime law.
There are other important institutional sources of international maritime labour
law which complement the work of the International Labour Organization. The In-
ternational Maritime Organization has developed over the years important treaties
– such as the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention –
dealing with the human dimension of international maritime law and consequently
relevant to maritime labour law. In fact, one is able to trace strong influences of
IMO’s treaty practice in the Maritime Labour Convention. These efforts to har-
monize the work of the International Labour Organization and the International
Maritime Organization are most welcome and augur well for the future stability
and security of international maritime labour law.
Complementing the universal work of these UN Specialized Agencies are im-
portant regional initiatives which may also have global importance, given the in-
ternational nature of shipping. In particular, reference can be made to the series of
VI Foreword
Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control and the growing EU regimes
protecting maritime labour.
Given the numerous texts which the abovementioned processes have produced,
the stakeholder, academic, practitioner and student will find this book of great util-
ity and assistance. The authors have compiled in one convenient volume the most
relevant maritime labour instruments in a clear and logical manner. Particularly
useful are the ‘guides’ which introduce each Chapter. The readers will also find
excellent references to bibliographical sources, and relevant case-law of various
maritime jurisdictions.
The vital role of maritime labour law, in the proper and effective governance of
shipping, is not adequately reflected in the literature of the law. Its comprehensive
treatment by the authors is thus particularly welcome. I am confident that their
work’s prime goal of contributing to a better understanding of maritime labour in-
struments will be achieved.
David J. Attard
Director
IMO International Maritime Law Institute
Malta
11th June 2007
Preface
The pathway to acceptable maritime labour standards has been a long and con-
structive one. The interest seems to have shifted nowadays from theory to practice.
Adequate norms do exist; the challenge is knowledge thereof and the will of all
those concerned to effectively implement them. In this context, The Maritime
Work Law Fundamentals: Responsible Shipowners, Reliable Seafarers answers a
need and endeavours to fill a gap in existing documentation.
The Maritime Work Law Fundamentals answers the need for reflection on con-
temporary maritime labour standards, beyond the dichotomy of the opposing in-
terests between the employer and the employee. Qualitative shipping should place
itself in a long-term perspective where the high standards of its human component
would also constitute its competitive advantage. Credible shipowners appear to
share this concern.
Not only does The Maritime Work Law Fundamentals answers a theoretical
need, it also aspires to furthering practical application. This is pursued by present-
ing, in a global and accessible manner, existing maritime instruments which have
an impact not only on maritime labour but also on shipowners, flag States and port
States and which stem from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the In-
ternational Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU); more-
over, the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris
MOU), the Memorandum of Undestanding on Port State Control in the Asia-
Pacific Region (Tokyo MOU) and the Memorandum of Understanding on Port
State Control in the Black Sea (Black Sea MOU) have been included. It would
have been a vain effort to consider rendering this book exhaustive, owing to the
plethora of material available. However, we have incorporated some of the most
important instruments - including recently adopted ones – which influence the
regulatory framework of maritime work, such as the new consolidated Conven-
tion of the ILO on maritime work (adopted in February 2006).
This work also aims to render the instruments both accessible and comprehen-
sible, in the form of a compilation of reasonable length. The jurist, the lawyer,
the drafter, the maritime administrator, the social partner, the researcher, the uni-
versity lecturer and the student should find the work a useful tool.
Since it is intended to be used as both a reference book and an introductory
guide containing comments from the authors, this work does not diminish the need
for recourse to the original instruments, which stem from the organizations that
have elaborated them and which are, of course, the original texts. On the contrary,
it provides the reader with the opportunity to learn how to use the aforementioned
instruments more effectively.
VIII Preface
The reader will find herein an overview of the above-mentioned instruments as
well as comments with references to bibliography sources and case-law. The
sources which are referred to stem notably from British, French, Greek, North-
American and Russian literature.
The editors and authors would like to express their gratitude to the ILO, which
granted copyright permission for the reproduction of the instruments concerned;
they would also like to extend their thanks to the IMO, the Paris MOU, the Tokyo
MOU, the Black Sea MOU and the European Commission for providing guidance
on legal issues concerning the reproduction of relevant instruments. Professor Pat-
rick Chaumette of the Université de Nantes provided guidance at various stages of
Dr. Christodoulou-Varotsi’s research on maritime labour issues, for which she is
grateful; Professor Erik Rosaeg of the Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law
provided useful comments on the legal implications of the International Safety
Management Code; mention should be made of Dr. Anthony Madella, Mrs. Lydia
Markari-Kyriakou and Mr. Panayiotis Pacoutas from the Department of Merchant
Shipping of the Republic of Cyprus for providing access to IMO documents, as
well as of Commander (H.C.G.) George Boumpopoulos, from the Greek Ministry
of Mercantile Marine, who has also offered useful guidance on IMO sources. The
officers of the Division on Maritime Work of the same Ministry are also acknowl-
edged.
Mr. Panayiotis Toyias’s help with the text processing was invaluable, as well as
Mrs. Agatha Kopsidis’ comments on language improvements and Ms. Antigone
Gaitana’s further assistance on the accurate reproduction of the texts.
Last but not least, the co-editors and co-authors would like to extend their
thanks to Ms. Brigitte Reschke, in her capacity as Senior Editor Law of Springer,
Heidelberg, for having demonstrated confidence in the qualities of the proposal
submitted to her in view of the present publication and to Professor David J. At-
tard, Director of the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), which operates
under the auspices of the IMO in Malta, for having honoured this work with his
preface.
Given the concern to have a collection of a reasonable volume, international
conventions or regional instruments are reproduced in whole or in parts.
This book is the result of a collaborative effort. Dr. Iliana Christodoulou-
Varotsi is primarily responsible for editing and/or writing the sections on the IMO,
the Memoranda of Understanding and the EU; Mr Dmitry A. Pentsov is primarily
responsible for developments relating to the ILO.
Should this book contribute to a better understanding of maritime labour in-
struments, it will have achieved its primary goal.
Dr. Iliana Christodoulou-Varotsi Dmitry A. Pentsov
Athens (N. Psychiko)-Geneva
August 2007
Contents
Foreword.............................................................................................................................V
Preface.............................................................................................................................VII
Part I: Standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO)
By Dmitry A. Pentsov
1. General overview..............................................................................................................3
1.1. The ILO: its aims and purposes...............................................................................3
1.2. The ILO standard-setting activities..........................................................................4
1.3. The ILO supervisory machinery..............................................................................5
1.3.1. Types of supervision.....................................................................................5
1.3.2. The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and
Recommendations.........................................................................................5
1.3.3. The International Labour Conference Committee on the Application
of Standards..................................................................................................7
2. ILO maritime labour Conventions and Recommendations...............................................9
2.1. Overview.................................................................................................................9
2.1.1. The need for separate ILO maritime labour Conventions and Rec-
ommendations...............................................................................................9
2.1.2. History of adoption and consolidation of ILO maritime labour Con-
ventions and Recommendations..................................................................11
2.1.3. Classification of ILO maritime labour Conventions and Recommen-
dations.........................................................................................................12
2.2. Conventions and Recommendations of a General Character.................................13
2.2.1. Content and practical application of standards.............................................13
2.2.1.1. The National Seamen’s Codes Recommendation, 1920
(No. 9)..........................................................................................13
2.2.1.2. The Seafarers’ Engagement (Foreign Vessels) Recommen-
dation, 1958 (No. 107).................................................................14
2.2.1.3. The Social Conditions and Safety (Seafarers) Recommen-
dation, 1958 (No. 108).................................................................14
2.2.1.4. The Employment of Seafarers (Technical Developments)
Recommendation, 1970 (No. 139)...............................................14
2.2.1.5. The Continuity of Employment (Seafarers) Convention,
1976 (No. 145).............................................................................15
2.2.1.6. The Continuity of Employment (Seafarers) Recommen-
dation, 1976 (No. 154).................................................................16
2.2.1.7. The Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention,
1976 (No. 147).............................................................................17
X Contents
2.2.1.8. The Protocol of 1996 to the Merchant Shipping (Minimum
Standards) Convention.................................................................26
2.2.1.9. The Merchant Shipping (Improvement of Standards)
Recommendation, 1976 (No. 155)...............................................27
2.2.2. Texts of standards........................................................................................28
2.2.2.1. National Seamen’s Codes Recommendation, 1920 (No. 9).........28
2.2.2.2. Seafarers’ Engagement (Foreign Vessels) Recommenda-
tions, 1958 (No. 107)...................................................................28
2.2.2.3. Social Conditions and Safety (Seafarers) Recommenda-
tion, 1958 (No. 108).....................................................................29
2.2.2.4. Employment of Seafarers (Technical Developments)
Recommendation, 1970 (No. 139)...............................................30
2.2.2.5. Continuity of Employment (Seafarers) Convention, 1976
(No. 145)......................................................................................33
2.2.2.6. Continuity of Employment (Seafarers) Recommendation,
1976 (No. 154).............................................................................35
2.2.2.7. Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention,
1976 (No. 147).............................................................................37
2.2.2.8. Protocol of 1996 to the Merchant Shipping (Minimum
Standards) Convention, 1976.......................................................41
2.2.2.9. Merchant Shipping (Improvement of Standards) Recom-
mendation, 1976 (No. 155)..........................................................44
2.3. Conventions and Recommendations concerning the access to maritime
employment............................................................................................................46
2.3.1. Content and practical application of standards............................................46
2.3.1.1. Minimum age.................................................................................46
2.3.1.1.1. The Minimum Age (Sea) Convention, 1920
(No. 7)..........................................................................46
2.3.1.1.2. The Minimum Age (Sea) Convention (Revised),
1936 (No. 58)...............................................................47
2.3.1.2. Medical examination......................................................................48
2.3.1.2.1. The Medical Examination of Young Persons
(Sea) Convention, 1921 (No. 16).................................48
2.3.1.2.2. The Medical Examination (Seafarers) Conven-
tion, 1946 (No. 73).......................................................49
2.3.1.3. Training..........................................................................................52
2.3.1.3.1. The Vocational Training (Seafarers) Recommen-
dation, 1970 (No. 137).................................................52
2.3.1.4. Qualifications.................................................................................53
2.3.1.4.1. The Officers’ Competency Certificates Conven-
tion, 1936 (No. 53).......................................................53
2.3.1.4.2. The Certification of Ships’ Cooks Convention,
1946 (No. 69)...............................................................55
2.3.1.4.3. The Certification of Able Seamen Convention,
1946 (No. 74)...............................................................57
2.3.1.5. Seafarers’ identity documents........................................................59
2.3.1.5.1. The Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention,
1958 (No. 108).............................................................59
2.3.1.5.2. The Seafarers’ Identity Documents Convention
(Revised), 2003 (No. 185)............................................63
