Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 147) - Liberia (Ratification: 1981)

Further to its observation, the Committee would be glad if the Government would include in its next report information on the following matters.

Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Liberian Maritime Law and subordinate legislation apply to ships engaged in trade (section 51 of the Law). Please indicate by what provision sea-going tugs and other sea-going ships engaged in other commercial purposes are covered in accordance with the Convention.

Article 2(a) (Conventions included in the Appendix to Convention No. 147 but not ratified by Liberia):

- Convention No. 68, Article 5. The Committee notes the provisions of the Regulations (MR 10.315) as to food and water supply. Please indicate arrangements and requirements in respect of the catering department.

- Convention No. 73. The Committee notes that, under section 51 of the Maritime Law, provisions as to medical examination of seafarers do not seem to be applied to sea-going vessels of under 1600 gross registered tons (GRT) except in "exceptional cases" where that requirement is waived. The Committee recalls that Article 1(3)(a) of Convention No. 73 allows the exclusion of vessels of less than only 200 GRT. The Committee considers the difference of 1400 GRT too great for there to be substantial equivalence for purposes of Article 2(a) of Convention No. 147 (cf. paragraph 44 of the 1990 General Survey). It would therefore be glad if the Government would indicate any measures taken or proposed to bring the national provisions more closely into line with the Convention in this respect.

- Convention No. 134, Article 4. The Committee notes that the Maritime Regulations (10.296(7)) seem to deal only very partially with the accident prevention requirements of this Article. It would be glad if the Government would provide details of any other provisions dealing with the matters referred to in this Article, or any proposals to enact legislation of this kind.

Article 2(c). Please indicate any measures agreed between shipowners and seafarers relating to the control of any provisions as to shipboard conditions of employment and living arrangements included in collective agreements.

Article 2(d). Please provide details of procedures for the engagement of seafarers on Liberian ships (whether at home or abroad); and of any procedures for the investigation of complaints as to such engagement. Please indicate what authority exercises overall supervision of these procedures and any tripartite consultations which have taken place on the subject.

Article 2(e). Please describe the operation of training measures and how it is ensured that seafarers employed on Liberian ships are properly qualified or trained for the duties for which they are engaged, having due regard to Recommendation No. 137.

Article 2(g). The Committee has noted the arrangements under the Rules for Marine Investigations and Hearings: from section 6.2 it appears that an official inquiry into a serious marine casualty of the kind referred to by the Convention would be discretionary and not mandatory. Please indicate how it is ensured that such an inquiry always takes place, as required by the Convention, when incidents involving Liberian ships cause injury or loss of life; and whether the final report of such an inquiry is normally made public. Please supply information as to the numbers of inquiries held and measures taken as a result.

Article 3. Please indicate any measures taken to advise Liberian nationals of the possible problems of signing on for work on foreign-registered ships.

Article 4. Please indicate any action taken for the application of the standards of the Convention to foreign-registered ships calling at Liberian ports.