Marshall Islands - National determinations

Article II(3) - In the event of doubt as to whether any categories of persons are to be regarded as seafarers for the purpose of this Convention, the question shall be determined by the competent authority in each Member after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned with this question.

Under Marine Notice No. No. 2-011-33, Rev 1/16 of the Office of the Maritime Administrator concerning Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 Inspection and Certification Program, the Administration considers that the following are not seafarers: Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASPs) are considered supernumeraries by the Administrator. However, all guidelines for the engagement of PCASP must be followed and suitable accommodations provided.  Other supernumeraries not considered seafarers shall include harbour pilots; North Sea/Canal pilots; Amazon River pilots; short sail attendance of service engineer and repair technicians; ship inspectors; auditors; superintendents; as well as specialist staff such as scientists, researchers, guest entertainers, and lecturers.  Riding gang members, tank cleaning crews and port workers are not considered seafarers. This would include someone who is not a documented seafarer and who does not perform watchstanding, automated engine room duty watch, or personnel safety functions; or cargo handling functions, including any activity relating to the loading or unloading of cargo, the operation of cargo-related equipment (whether or not integral to the vessel); does not serve as part of the crew complement; and is not a member of the catering/mess crew. Cadets are seafarers for which suitable accommodation onboard ships shall be made available while undergoing mandatory shipboard training. Cadets enrolled in a National or other training program that requires onboard experience may hold a training agreement in lieu of a seafarers employment agreement, so long as the training agreement provides contractual arrangements to ensure that a cadet has the substantially equivalent information and protections as afforded by a seafarers’ employment agreement.  Cruise ship personnel such as hotel staff, restaurant and galley staff, shopkeepers, resident entertainers, spa personnel, hairdressers, casino operators and others who are directly employed by the cruise operator or are employed by an outsourced franchise company are seafarers.  Personnel under the employ or contract of the charterer of a yacht are not considered seafarers and shall be the responsibility of the charterer. Nevertheless, such personnel must not be brought on board unless suitable accommodation and safety equipment can be provided.  Industrial personnel engaged on vessels doing pipe laying, cableslaying, ROV, surveys, subsea operations with construction crews; ranks such as riggers, riggers foreman, offshore construction managers, surveyors, divers, technicians, medics etc. who are working onboard the vessel for extended periods as part of the normal working complement, while not considered seafarers, and whether employed by the vessel operator or not, will be expected to have at least the same level of social protection as the marine crew.

Article II(5) - In the event of doubt as to whether this Convention applies to a ship or particular category of ships, the question shall be determined by the competent authority in each Member after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned.

Under Marine Notice No. No. 2-011-33, Rev 1/16 of the Office of the Maritime Administrator concerning Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 Inspection and Certification Program, The Administrator considers units engaged in exploration, exploitation, and/or processing of sea-bed mineral resources, including production, storage and offloading, maintenance, construction or accommodation units, when on location for the purpose of conducting or
supporting operations subject to the jurisdiction of a host coastal State, to be installations and not ships. Units flagged and certified in accordance with the RMI Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Standards (MI-293) and/or other relevant applicable national laws and regulatory requirements where the subject matter is dealt with differently are considered to substantially
meet the requirements of the MLC, 2006 and thus are not subject to certification under the Convention in these circumstances.

The Administrator has determined that commercial yachts, that is, yachts ordinarily engaged in chartering, regardless of tonnage shall be considered ships for the purpose of applying the requirements of the MLC, 2006. Private yachts of any size not ordinarily engaged in commercial activities such as chartering shall not be considered ships for the purpose of applying the requirements of the MLC, 2006

Article II(6) - Where the competent authority determines that it would not be reasonable or practicable at the present time to apply certain details of the Code referred to in Article VI, paragraph 1, to a ship or particular categories of ships flying the flag of the Member, the relevant provisions of the Code shall not apply to the extent that the subject matter is dealt with differently by national laws or regulations or collective bargaining agreements or other measures. Such a determination may only be made in consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned and may only be made with respect to ships of less than 200 gross tonnage not engaged in international voyages.

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List sources

Title	Document date	Download

Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 Inspection and Certification Program Marine Notice No. 2-011-33	01-JAN-2016	Download