Free internet on board for all seafarers under the MLC, 2006

The last set of amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) entered into force on December 2024

Let’s remind ourselves of the new MLC, 2006 amendments that finally brought internet connection available during the whole navigation and somewhere also free internet on shipowners' costs. This was a significant issue for seafarers, and we can say that a new chapter began for them. As the world moves forward from the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the maritime industry is reevaluating how to best support our seafarers, who play a crucial role in global trade. There have been numerous discussions and meetings in the last 2 years about this subject.

The 2022 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006), approved by the 110th session of the International Labour Conference, mark an important milestone in prioritizing their health, safety, and overall well-being. These amendments respond directly to seafarers' difficulties during the pandemic, aiming to enhance their lives and strengthen their connections. Here’s what seafarers can anticipate starting this year:

1. Social Connectivity - Internet connection available for all

I think this is one of the most important and exciting news for seafarers!

A restrictive social and living environment, including distance from the family, can be considered a primary factor in mental efficiency. From the researcher’s experience, the influence of family life is very strong and cannot be compensated, especially when children are growing up. Therefore, social connectivity is crucial!

Anyone who has spent time away from home knows how challenging it can be to feel disconnected. For seafarers, this sense of isolation is often much more intense. The new amendments ensure that shipowners are required to provide facilities for social interaction and access to ship-to-shore communication, including internet and phone services. If there are any charges, the price must be reasonable.

This change goes beyond technology; it is about staying in touch with loved ones, maintaining mental health, and feeling connected to the world, even when you are miles from shore.

2. Better Food and Water – Available for free

It’s hard to do your best when you’re not feeling your best!

Access to clean drinking water and healthy meals isn’t just a comfort, it’s a fundamental need. The amendments ensure that seafarers receive nutritious, balanced meals -free of charge, that are of good quality and in sufficient quantity. From now on, seafarers shall not pay for drinking water on board.

3. Better Personal Protective Equipment

Safety First!

Every seafarer deserves to be safe at work. The main requirement of the SOLAS convention is to prevent accidents on sea, not to wait for them to happen. The new amendments require shipowners to provide properly sized, high-quality PPE for all crew members. This includes gear that prevents accidents, injuries, and illnesses onboard. Whether it’s ensuring proper protective clothing, safety equipment, or health protections, this change is about giving seafarers the tools they need to stay safe in their demanding work environment.

4. Ensuring Accountability and Transparency in safarers’ loss

Higher respect for all those who lost their life on the ship!

It’s heartbreaking to think about, but we heard many times about the accidents and dramatic situations on board, when seafarers sometimes lost their lives as well. To ensure that these tragic events are handled with transparency and respect, the amendments require that all seafarer deaths be recorded and reported annually to the International Labour Organization (ILO). The data will be published, helping us track trends and address safety issues. This is a critical step toward creating a safer working environment for all seafarers.

5. Protecting Seafarers’ Financial Rights

Compensation for seafarers is a ” must”!

One of the biggest challenges seafarers face is the risk of financial loss due to recruitment and placement services. The amendments ensure that seafarers are aware of their rights to compensation in these situations. If a seafarer faces monetary loss, they will be entitled to compensation. This protection ensures that seafarers aren’t left vulnerable or financially exposed in an industry that already requires immense sacrifice.

6. Measures arised from Covid 19

Lessons from the Pandemic!

In October 2020, the ITF and the ICS sent observations to the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), pointing out that, during the pandemic, States that had ratified the MLC, 2006, had failed to comply with its major provisions, particularly those regarding cooperation among Member States, access to medical care, and seafarer repatriation (ILO 2020c).

Travel restrictions enforced by many states prohibited regular crew changes in 2020. Over 300,000 seafarers were stranded on ships and were unable to be repatriated. An equal number of unemployed seafarers ashore were unable to work due to their inability to reach their ships, and hundreds of thousands of seafarers were obliged to remain on board beyond the 11-month maximum term specified in the MLC, 2006.

Psychosocial challenges faced by seafarers include long-term absence from family and a stable social environment, communication barriers among the multinational crew, occupational aggression, and sleep and rest abnormalities due to watchkeeping. Organizational dangers include a blaming culture, poor safety communication due to a lack of job security, and being abandoned overseas.

The amendments respond directly to these hardships, aiming to provide a better quality of life, safer working conditions, and more transparency about their rights and protections.

These amendments represent an important step forward, ensuring that seafarers are no longer forgotten or overlooked but treated with the respect, care, and protection they deserve.

And this is not the end! Member states are already negotiating a new set of amendments to the MLC, 2006 convention. The SCT meeting will be held in Geneva in April. It is not insignificant that two amendments to the convention are being discussed in such a short period. This indicates that the importance of our seafarers and their role in the global maritime industry has been recognized.

At the end of the day, our seafarers warrant not just our support but our unwavering commitment to their well-being and success.

Because without seafarers, there would be no shipping!

Written by: Masa Stampic

Master of Humanities in International Maritime Legislation