All seafarers have working and living rights that include: employment contracts accommodation food and medical care A seafarer is anyone who works on board a seagoing ship, including: master and crew self-employed contractors shopkeepers and hairdressers entertainers A seagoing ship is any vessel: on an international voyage or from a foreign port on a domestic journey from the UK coast more than 500 gross tonnes The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 came into force on 7 August 2014. It replaced all existing laws on seafarers’ rights.

There are minimum requirements seafarers must meet to work at sea. Minimum age The minimum age for seafarers is 16, although this is 18 if the work involves any: night work hazardous tasks Hazardous tasks Manual tasks on a ship can be hazardous if not done properly, like: lifting hauling mooring towing Employers of seafarers must ensure their staff: know how to operate any equipment correctly are aware of safety procedures have access to protective personal equipment if needed Medical certification for seafarers Anyone in charge of a ship must have an ENG1 seafarer medical certificate . Certificates of competency Some seafarers will need a certificate of competency before they can carry out certain duties.

Conditions of employment

Seafarers’ employment contracts are covered by the Maritime Labour Convention ( MLC ) 2006 . Working time regulations All seafarers on seagoing ships are entitled to: a minimum of 10 hours’ rest in any 24 hour period 77 hours rest in any 7 day period at least 4 weeks’ paid annual leave Read the Merchant Shipping Regulations 2002 for more information.

The term ‘human element’ covers anything to do with the interaction between a human and any system aboard ship, and is of high importance in maritime safety and security. Factors which affect the human element include: recruitment and selection policies and methods crew competence, training and experience conditions of service, motivation and morale design, construction and ergonomics standards of build and certification maintenance stress and fatigue security living and working conditions manning levels and hours of work management policies safety management systems operational systems organisational and safety culture culture of continuous improvement and workforce engagement For more information read ‘The human element: a guide to human behaviour in the shipping industry’ .

Safe working practices

All UK ships must carry copies of the ‘Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen’ , unless it’s a fishing boat or pleasure vessel. Safe manning of ships Employers must ensure their ships have enough properly trained and certificated officers so that it can operate safely at all times. There must also be sufficient food on board for the number of seafarers serving. Read more in ‘Merchant Shipping Notice 1868 (M) UK requirements for safe manning and watchkeeping’ . Noise and vibration A seafarer’s employer must carry out risk assessments to identify who’s at risk from noise or vibration in their work and what can be done to reduce or remove these risks. Protective personal equipment (PPE) A seafarer’s employer must give them suitable protective equipment if they’re performing dangerous tasks. You can find further information in the code of safe working practices for merchant seafarers .

Seafarers’ living conditions are covered by Maritime Labour Convention ( MLC ) rules on crew accommodation . Food and catering Seafarers’ food and catering conditions are covered by MSN 1845 under MLC rules . Health and safety Employers of seafarers must follow health and safety rules and provide: safe working places and environment safe machinery and equipment health and safety training, instruction, supervision and information a health and safety policy protective clothing and equipment where necessary information for workers about the findings of their risk assessment information on what qualifications any temporary workers must have information about their activities and staff to the company Risk assessments Any vessel where seafarers work onboard must have had a risk assessment carried out by their employer or the ship owner. New or expectant mothers Where women of childbearing age are employed as seafarers, a risk assessment must take place of any potential hazard likely to affect a new or expectant mother. It does not matter if they are pregnant at the time of the assessment or not. If a risk is found that cannot be removed, a new or expectant mother working as a seafarer can be suspended on full pay providing one of the following applies: they’ve told their employer they’re pregnant they’ve given birth in the last 6 months they’re breastfeeding For more information on health and safety rules for new and expectant mothers, contact the Seafarer Safety and Health Branch of the Maritime and Coastguard Authority ( MCA ). Seafarer Safety & Health Branch 02380 329 247 Find out about call charges

Seafarers may face additional dangers when living onboard ships. Petrol generators Ships that use petrol generators must have a risk assessment carried out to make sure they provide: sufficient power for accommodation and lighting adequate ventilation adequate alarms - for example, carbon monoxide alarms Fumigating cargo spaces If pesticides are on board a ship, employers must make sure: adequate breathing aids are provided for seafarers checking fumigated cargo bulks the ship’s destination port is told 24 hours in advance of receiving this cargo properly trained personnel check the relevant cargo bulks at port Illegal drugs The unauthorised presence of drugs on board a ship can have serious legal implications for seafarers and employers, potentially resulting in: heavy fines detention of a ship imprisonment the death penalty

Potentially dangerous cargo

If seafarers deal with certain toxic cargo or equipment on board ships, their employer must follow a number of specific requirements. Read the code of safe working practices for merchant seafarers . There are also specific guidelines for working with asbestos. Read guidance about working with asbestos .

Health and medical care

Employers must protect their seafarers’ health by: providing immunisations for certain infectious diseases making sure hygiene measures are effective and minimise the risks of infection making arrangements for infection control having the right medical supplies knowing the routes and destinations of their ships Read the guidance on infectious disease at sea . Read the guidance on contamination of ships’ air conditioning systems by legionella . You can buy the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide through The Stationery Office Shop website . Until the UK made the Maritime Labour Convention ( MLC ) law, seafarers’ health and safety regulations were covered by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 .

Seafarer working and living rights

Overview

All seafarers have working and living rights that include:

employment contracts
accommodation
food and medical care

A seafarer is anyone who works on board a seagoing ship, including:

master and crew
self-employed contractors
shopkeepers and hairdressers
entertainers

A seagoing ship is any vessel:

on an international voyage or from a foreign port
on a domestic journey from the UK coast
more than 500 gross tonnes

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 came into force on 7 August 2014. It replaced all existing laws on seafarers’ rights.

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Seafarer working and living rights

Overview

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Overview

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