Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 147) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ratification: 1980)

1. Article 2(a) (Conventions listed in the Appendix to Convention No. 147 but not ratified by the United Kingdom). Convention No. 73. Articles 1(3)(a) and 5(1). Further to its previous comments, the Committee recalls from the Government's 1994 report that even though proposals regarding medical examination of seafarers on vessels below 1,600 gross register tons have not yet been put for consultation, consideration will be given to undertaking a consultation exercise as part of an internal Department of Transport review of arrangements for the medical examination and training of seafarers. Such review will also cover the frequency at which seafarers are required to be medically examined. The Committee recalls the Government's assurance that it will keep the Committee informed of any developments which may take place, and hopes that the review will enable the Government in the near future to take the necessary measures to ensure the implementation of these Articles of the Convention.

2. Article 2(e) of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government's position that the level of recruitment of seafarers for employment on UK ships and the nationality of those recruits are commercial matters for the owners of those ships and will also be subject to the numbers of individuals seeking such employment. It further notes that the Government considers it cannot with any justification require employers to engage UK seafarers nor can it exercise any influence on the number of persons seeking employment at sea.

However, the Committee notes the continued support for recruitment and retention of UK seafarers through the Government Assistance for Training (GAFT) and Development of Certified Seafarers (DOCS) schemes, and that the GAFT scheme has not been oversubscribed. The Committee would appreciate receiving future statistics concerning the training of British seafarers.

3. Article 4. The Committee notes the statement in the Government's comments of 22 November 1996 that the Marine Safety Agency (MSA) has achieved or surpassed the 25 per cent target level of inspections laid down in the European Directive on Port State Control. The Committee requests the Government to provide information concerning the resources allocated for the MSA in its future Business Plan (after 1996-97) when this has been determined.