Global Maritime Regulatory System

Hi everyone, as it has been long since i uploaded a blog,today I would decided to post on something which is very important for us seafarers.The global maritime regulatory system consists of four main pillars such as Marine labour convention (MLC),International convention on standards of training,certification and watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW), MARPOL 73/78 and Internationl convention for safety of life at sea (SOLAS).I would to do a brief blog about these system today.These four pillars are under one roof organization called International maritime organization (IMO).

IMO

No matter in which career we are in, safety of workers are important, therefore there is this international convention for the safety of life at sea (SOLAS) which is an international maritime treaty which sets minimum safety standards in the construction,equipment and operation of merchant ships.The convention requires signatory flag states to ensure that ships flagged by them comply with at least these standards.The current version of SOLAS is the 1974 version,known as SOLAS 1974,which came into force on25th May 1980.

SOLAS

Not only safety for life of seafarers but there is also a convention made for the sea which is known as MARPOL 73/78. It is the main international convention aimed at the prevention of pollution from ships caused by operational or accidental causes.It was adopted at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1973.The protocol of 1978 was adopted in response to the number of tanker accidents in 1976-1977.The original MARPOL was signed on 17 February 1973,but did not come into force at the signing date.The current convention is a combination of 1973 convention and the 1978 protocol ,which entered into force on 2 October 1983.

MARPOL

Despite that, International convention on standards of training,certification and watchkeeping for seafarers STCW which sets minimum qualification standards for masters,officers and watch personal on seagoing merchant ships and large yachts .STCW was adopted in 1978 by conference at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) convention in London,and entered into force in 1984.The convention was significantly amended in 1995.

STCW

Last but not least,maritime labour convention (MLC) is an international labour organization convention , number 186,established in 2006 as the fourth pillar of maritime law and embodies '" all up-to-date standards of existing international maritime labour conventions and recommendations , as well as the fundamental principles to be found in other pillars such as SOLAS,MARPOL and STCW.The treaties applies to all ships entering the harbours of parties to the treaty (port states), as well to all states flying the flag of the state party (flag states).This convention was drafted on 7th February 2006 and signed on 23rd February 2006 in Geneva which was in effective 20 august 2013 onwards.

MLC

With these information, I hope you guys have got some ideass of what is the use of these and how these conventions works.So thats all for today,and see you guys on my next blog.

Thanks for visiting. See you when I see you all again.