Guidance

MGN 706 (M) Maritime labour convention, 2006: implementation of the 2022 amendments

Published 19 March 2026

Summary

This notice provides guidance on the changes resulting from the 2022 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC).

1. Introduction

1.1 In 2022, the International Labour Organization’s Special Tripartite Committee on the Maritime Labour Convention agreed eight amendments to MLC standards (Part A of the MLC Code).

These adopted amendments cover a range of MLC standards including those relating to:

• recruitment and placement
• accommodation and recreational facilities, in respect of social connectivity provisions
• food and catering
• medical care
• repatriation
• health and safety onboard

1.2 The purpose of the MLC 2022 amendments is to promote decent living and working conditions for seafarers globally and to encourage an international level playing field for shipping. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted seafarers and the 2022 amendments reflect lessons that were learned from UK and international experiences.

1.3 Several of the adopted amendments were already in force in the UK in 2022 and two new Statutory Instruments are being developed to implement the remaining amendments into UK law.

1.4 For completeness, the definition of a seafarer in the UK means any person, including a master, who is employed or engaged or works in any capacity on board a ship and whose normal place of work is on a ship. Cadets are seafarers and are entitled to the same protections under the MLC as all other seafarers. Further information can be found in MGN 471 (M) Amendment 2: Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, definitions.

2. The removal of government ships from UK regulations

1. 2.1 The disapplication of various UK regulations to “government ships” in the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026: 

   1. 2.1.1 The schedule to the proposed regulations makes minor amendments to several relevant UK regulations in order to remove the application of those regulations to government ships. 

2. 2.2 Many of the MLC provisions were originally implemented in the UK under the European Communities Act 1972 (ECA). Following the repeal of the ECA by the European Union (Withdrawal Act) 2018, those powers are no longer available to implement subsequent changes made to the MLC.

3. 2.3 The power to apply MLC requirements to government ships under merchant shipping legislation is more limited going forward and it was determined that as a part of the changes required to implement the 2022 MLC amendments, government ships would be removed from the scope of MLC regulations. This was in turn, part of a wider approach to enable government ships to demonstrate compliance with merchant shipping legislation, where applicable, in a different way. 

3. The amendments to the code relating to Regulation 1.4 – recruitment and placement

3.1 This amendment is not covered by the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026. This amendment will be given effect by a separate instrument in Spring 2026. This guidance note will be updated at that time to include this amendment.

4. Amendments to the code relating to Regulation 3.1 – accommodation and recreational facilities

1. 4.1 The previous requirements:

   1. Standard A3.1, paragraph 17 stated that “appropriate seafarers’ recreational facilities, amenities and services, as adapted to meet the special needs of seafarers who must live and work on ships, shall be provided on board for the benefit of all seafarers, taking into account regulation 4.3 and the associated code provisions on health and safety protection and accident prevention.”

2. 4.2 The new requirements:

   1. Standard A3.1, paragraph 17, has been amended to read “appropriate seafarers’ recreational facilities, amenities and services, including social connectivity, as adapted to meet the special needs of seafarers who must live and work on ships, shall be provided on board for the benefit of all seafarers, taking into account regulation 4.3 and the associated code provisions on health and safety protection and accident prevention.”

3. 4.3 The effect of these requirements:

   1. Social connectivity encompasses ways of enabling seafarers to maintain contact with their families through mechanisms such as social media, email and other messaging apps. Improving social connectivity onboard is an important step towards tackling onboard isolation and loneliness for those who are away from home for long periods of time and is intended to improve mental health and seafarer wellbeing onboard.

   2. This amendment introduces a new requirement under The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 for social connectivity onboard as part of the mandatory standards for crew accommodation for which non-compliance will be an offence.

4. 4.4 Further information on social connectivity and internet access can be found in MGN 707 (M) MLC, 2006 - provision of social connectivity and internet access.

5. Amendments to the code relating to Regulation 3.2 – food and catering

1. 5.1 The previous requirements:

   1. Standard A3.2, paragraph 2(a), stated that “each member shall ensure that ships that fly its flag meet the following minimum standards:

      1. (a) food and drinking water supplies, having regard to the number of seafarers on board, their religious requirements and cultural practices as they pertain to food, and the duration and nature of the voyage, shall be suitable in respect of quantity, nutritional value, quality and variety”.

   2. Standard A3.2, paragraph 2(b) also states that “(b) the organization and equipment of the catering department shall be such as to permit the provision to the seafarers of adequate, varied and nutritious meals prepared and served in hygienic conditions”.

2. 5.2 The new requirements:

   1. Standard A3.2, paragraph 2 has been amended to state that “each member shall ensure that ships that fly its flag meet the following minimum standards:

      1. a) food and drinking water supplies, having regard to the number of seafarers on board, their religious requirements and cultural practices as they pertain to food, and the duration and nature of the voyage, shall be suitable in respect of quantity, nutritional value, quality and variety, and shall be provided free of charge during the period of engagement.

      2. b) the organisation and equipment of the catering department shall be such as to permit the provision to the seafarers of adequate, varied, balanced and nutritious meals prepared and served in hygienic conditions”.

3. 5.3 The effect of these requirements:

   1. This amendment recognises that the ship is both a seafarer’s place of work and rest. Due to the isolated nature of the workplace opportunities to supplement catering are minimal. Therefore, it is key to ensure that water is available for free onboard, and that sufficient quantities are available to allow seafarers to remain hydrated while they are both on and off duty onboard.

   2. Similarly, the clarification that meals should be balanced ensures that seafarers are able to maintain a healthy diet for the duration of their time onboard, without the need to supplement their diet from outside the vessel. Sufficient water intake, and a healthy, balanced diet, are also important factors in managing seafarer fatigue in all sectors.

4. 5.4 Further information on food and catering can be found in MSN 1845 Amendment 2.

6. Amendments to the code relating to Regulation 4.1 – medical care on board ship and ashore

1. 6.1 The previous requirements:

   1. No details relating to any previous requirements, as this is a new requirement.

2. 6.2 The new requirements:

   1. New paragraphs 5 and 6 have been added to Standard A4.1 to state that:

      1. “5. Each Member shall ensure prompt disembarkation of seafarers in need of immediate medical care from ships in its territory and access to medical facilities ashore for the provision of appropriate treatment.”

      2. “6. Where a seafarer has died during a ship’s voyage, the member in whose territory the death has occurred or, where the death has occurred on the high seas, into whose territorial waters the ship next enters, shall facilitate the repatriation of the body or ashes by the shipowner, in accordance with the wishes of the seafarer or their next of kin, as appropriate.”

3. 6.3 The effect of these requirements:

   1. This amendment is designed to ensure that seafarers who are in need of immediate medical care are able to be taken to shore at the first possible instance and provided with access to medical care. Port States will also need to be made ready to receive casualties at short notice.

   2. It will also ensure that seafarers’ wishes regarding the handling of their body or ashes in the case of their death are met.

6.4 Further information on medical care ashore can be found in MGN 482 (M) Amendment 1 maritime labour convention 2006, medical care and MGN 623 (M+F) Telemedical advice service (TMAS) for ships at sea.

7. Amendment to the code relating to Regulation 4.3 – health and safety protection and accident prevention

1. 7.1 The previous requirements:

   1. The laws and regulations and other measures to be adopted in accordance with Regulation 4.3, paragraph 3, shall include the following subjects:

      1. (a) the adoption and effective implementation and promotion of occupational safety and health policies and programs on ships that fly the member’s flag, including risk evaluation as well as training and instruction of seafarers;

      2. (b) reasonable precautions to prevent occupational accidents, injuries and diseases on board ship, including measures to reduce and prevent the risk of exposure to harmful levels of ambient factors and chemicals as well as the risk of injury or disease that may arise from the use of equipment and machinery on board ships.

2. 7.2 The new requirements:

   1. Standard A4.3 has been amended to read: “the laws and regulations and other measures to be adopted in accordance with Regulation 4.3, paragraph 3, shall include the following subjects:

      1. (a) the adoption and effective implementation and promotion of occupational safety and health policies and programs on ships that fly the member’s flag, including risk evaluation as well as training and instruction of seafarers;

      2. (b) reasonable precautions to prevent occupational accidents, injuries and diseases on board ship, including through the provision of all necessary appropriately-sized personal protective equipment and measures to reduce and prevent the risk of exposure to harmful levels of ambient factors and chemicals, as well as the risk of injury or disease that may arise from the use of equipment and machinery on board ships”.

3. 7.3 The effect of these requirements:

   1. Access to appropriately sized personal protective equipment (PPE) will help to ensure a safer working environment and may contribute to widening job opportunities to a broader spectrum of possible candidates who seek employment in the maritime industry, including women.

   2. The current version of the code of safe working practices for merchant seafarers is available from Code of safe working practices for merchant seafarers 2025 edition.

4. 7.4 Further information on seafarers personal protective equipment can be found in MSN 1870 (M+F) Amendment 6 Personal protective equipment regs 1999.

8. Making complaints under the MLC

8.1 Where there is reason to believe that a breach of the MLC has occurred it should be reported through the onboard complaints procedure, following the details provided within the terms and conditions of a seafarer’s employment agreement. MSN 1849 (M) Amendment 1 MLC, 2006 on-board complaint procedures contains further guidance on the use and content of the onboard complaints procedure.

8.2 A seafarer is also entitled to use an onshore complaints system under the MLC. The MCA can also be contacted at mlc@mcga.gov.uk, providing full details, see MGN 487 (M) Amendment 2 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 On-shore complaints for further guidance.

9. More information

Seafarer Safety and Health

Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/17
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Email <seafarersafety@mcga.gov.uk>

Safety and Health Enquiries 0203 817 2000

Website: www.gov.uk/mca

Please note that all addresses and telephone numbers are correct at time of publishing.