MIN 632 Amendment 1 COVID 19 extension of seafarer employment agreements

Source: UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Original Date Posted: 8/18/2020

Under UK legislation implementing the Maritime Labour Convention, every seafarer on a UK ship is entitled to repatriation on the expiry of their seafarer employment agreement or after a maximum of 11 months of continuous service on board their ship. Restrictions on crew changes that have been applied in some ports in response to the COVID-19 pandemic mean that many seafarers are having to remain on board beyond their contracted period. While recognising the exceptional obstacles in some jurisdictions to crew changes in the current situation, as a flag state which has ratified the MLC, the UK has legal obligations to protect the living and working conditions of seafarers on its ships. This notice therefore requires shipowners of UK ships to notify the MCA (via mlc@mcga.gov.uk ) of any seafarers remaining on board beyond their contracted period.

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