Seafarer Essay

COURSE WORK

MODULE 1. INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAWS AND RELATED CONVENTIONS

1. MARITIME LABOR CONVENTION (MLC) 2006

MLC, 2006 is an international labor Convention adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO). It provides international standards worldwide and widely known as the “seafarers’ bill of rights”. It aims to achieve decent working condition for seafarers and secure their economic interests through fair competition and employment of ship owners with proven excellence in the industry.

Among the conditions set forth in the MLC 2006, includes the following, to wit:
 minimum age
 seafarers’ employment agreements
 hours of work or rest
 payment of wages
 paid annual leave
 repatriation at the end of contract
 on-board medical care
 the use of licensed private recruitment and placement services
 accommodation, food and catering
 health and safety protection and accident prevention and
 seafarers’ complaint handling

Designed for global use, the Convention is comprehensive and readily updatable. As it is envisioned to be the “fourth pillar" of the international regulatory regime for quality shipping, this complements the key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) dealing with safety and security of ships and protection of the marine environment.

2. WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 185

This means that if a ship is involved in an incident which causes damage to persons, property or the environment, there is a limit on the maximum amount of compensation that a court can order the shipowner to pay. Under the Philippine Laws, specifically the Code of Commerce, a vessel is essentially a personal property because it is movable. But the Supreme Court has characterized maritime transaction as real in nature with respect to liability against third persons of which are effected though