Port State Inspection pocket checklist
ILO MLC
01 Nov 2021 - 00:01
Full name: Ship name: Position:
01. Documentation
01 Maritime Labour Certificate
The Maritime Labour Certificate is valid for a period of five (5) years and is issued by the competent
authority or by a Recognised Organisation on behalf of the competent authority.
The Maritime Labour Certificate shall be subject to an intermediate inspection between the second and
thrid anniversary dates of the certificate.
The certificate may be extended for a period not exceeding five months where a renewal inspection has
been carried out and the ship continues to complay with national laws and regulations but a new
certificate cannot immediately be issued and made available to the ship.
02 Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC)
This is in two (2) parts:
Part I is completed by the flag state and refers to the relevant national requirements that are to be met
and which may be inspected to ensure compliance, including any exemptions granted.
Part II is completed by the shipowner and outlines the measures that the shipowner has put in place to
ensure ongoing compliance on the ship with these flag state requirements.
These two documents and also the conditions that they describe may be the subject of an inspection.
The master copies of both documents, accompanied by an English translation if necessary, shall be
held by the Master. Additional copies should be posted where seafarers can access them.
03 Two (2) copies of the report of the most recent inspection carried out by the flag state, or a
recognised organisation acting on behalf of the flag state, are to be kept on board the ship
One copy of the report, in English or the working language of the ship, shall be held by the Master. An
additional copy should be posted where it is readily accessible to the seafarers.
04 Evidence of financial security under Regulation 2.5, paragraph 2.
Posted in a conspicuous place where it is available to seafarers
05 Evidence of financial security under Regulation 4.3.
Posted in a conspicuous place where it is available to seafarers
02. Requirements for seafarers to work on a ship
01 All seafarers on board the ship must be aged 16 years or above
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02 Valid training and competency certificates are available for all seafarers
Confirmation of their competency or that they are otherwise qualified to perform their duties in
accordance with the flag state’s requirements
Records of training in personal safety are maintained on board
Training and certification in accordance with Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
(STCW), as amended, or the flag state's specific requirements are accepted as meeting these
requirements
03 Documentary evidence is available to indicate that the private seafarer recruitment and
placement service (SRPS) or agency contracted by the operator to engage the crew members is
operated in accordance with the MLC 2006
04
Requirements for seafarers under 18 years of age
Evidence that no night work is undertaken
The term "night" depends on national law and practice, but it must be a period of at least nine (9) hours,
starting no later than midnight and ending no earlier than 5:00 am
05
Requirements for seafarers under 18 years of age
Evidence that no tasks that are likely to jeopardise their safety or health are undertaken, in
accordance with the flag state's national requirements for young seafarers
06
Requirements for seafarers under 18 years of age
Medical certificate valid for a maximum of one (1) year
07
Manning levels
Must be at least in accordance with the Minimum Safe Manning Document
08
Manning levels
Must be adequate, in terms of number and qualifications, to ensure the safety and security of
the ship and its personnel under all operating conditions
03. Medical certification
01 Be issued by an appropriately qualified medical practitioner
02 Be valid for a period not exceeding the flag state's requirements or two years, whichever is the
shortest
03 Be in English and in a format acceptable to the flag state (certificates issued to comply with the
requirements of STCW shall be accepted)
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04 Provide details of hearing, sight and colour vision
05 Have a validity period for colour vision not exceeding the flag state's requirements or six (6)
years, whichever is shortest
06 Include a statement to say that the seafarer is fit for duties
04. Seafarers' Employment Agreements (SEAs)
01 The SEA must be signed by the seafarer and the shipowner, or his authorised representative
All seafarers must be given an original copy of the SEA
02 Copies of the SEA and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) (if applicable) must be available
on board
03 English translations of the SEA and CBA must be available on board
04
The SEA must contain the items required by MLC 2006 Regulation 2.1, Standard A2.1.4 and any other
particulars that the flag state's law may require, including:
A notice period for early termination of the SEA of not less than seven days
05
The SEA must contain the items required by MLC 2006 Regulation 2.1, Standard A2.1.4 and any other
particulars that the flag state's law may require, including:
The right to terminate the contract for compassionate reasons
06
Record of employment
Seafarers shall be given a document containing a record of their employment on board the ship.
The document shall not contain any statement as to the quality of a seafarer's work or as to their wages.
07
Seafarers' employment agreements shall continue to have effect if a seafarer is held captive on or off
the ship.
SEA's shall continue to have effect while a seafarer is held captive on or off the ship as a result
of an act of piracy or armed robbery against a ship, regardless of whether the expiry date of the
SEA has passed or whether notice has been given to suspend or terminate the SEA.
05. Wages
01 Wages are paid in accordance with the SEA (and CBA, if any)
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02 An individual monthly statement of account is provided to all seafarers on board, indicating
their monthly wage and any authorised deductions, such as allotments
03 Seafarers have the right to make an allotment of all or part of their earnings
04 Charges for the allotments and exchange rates are reasonable and in accordance with the flag
state's requirements
05 There are no unauthorised deductions, such as payments for travel from the ship
06. Hours of work and hours of rest
01 A table of shipboard working arrangements for all positions on board is posted in an accessible
place or places. An English translation is available
02 Accurate records of hours of work and rest are available for all seafarers, and are signed by the
Master (or a person authorised by the Master) and the seafarers
03 Normal working hours are based on eight (8) hours per day, with a minimum one (1) day of rest
per week and rest on public holidays
04 Maximum work or minimum rest hours on board are:
Maximum working hours
14 hours in any 24 hour period
72 hours in any 7 day period
Minimum rest hours
10 hours in any 24 hour period
77 hours in any 7 day period
05 The daily rest period is divided into two (2) periods, one of which is of at least six (6) hours
duration
06 Muster and LSA/FFA drills and other drills are held at times to minimise disturbance to rest
periods and not induce fatigue
07 Compensatory rest for call outs during normal rest periods is considered
08 Records of exemptions from the above (if any) permitted by the flag state are available
09 Arrangements are in place to allow for hours of work that may be required in cases of
emergency
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07. Leave and repatriation
01 All seafarers have minimum annual leave with pay based on 2.5 days per month of employment
02 The flag state's provisions regarding repatriation are available on board
03 All seafarers are entitled to repatriation:
after a maximum 12 months period
as stated in the SEA
in case of termination for justified reasons (by the shipowner or seafarer)
when they are not able to carry out their duties on board due to illness, injury, etc.
Seafarer's to serve no longer than 11 months continuously on board a ship. Flag state
provisions and PSC approaches should be taken into account.
04 Repatriation costs, including tickets, meals, accommodation, luggage and medical expenses
are covered by the shipowner except in cases of serious default of the employment terms by the
seafarer
05 Seafarers are granted shore leave whenever possible
06 Documentary evidence of financial security for repatriation is available
08. Accommodation and recreational facilities
01 General Arrangement plans of the vessel's accommodation are available and up to date
02 Records of the Master's inspections of the vessel's accommodation are maintained and
available
03 Accommodation spaces are clean and in a good state of repair, and fixtures and fittings are in
place and in good working order
04 Mess rooms are clean, hygienic and comfortable
05 Cabins have hot and cold running water
06 Bedding is clean and hygienic
07 Heating and ventilation, including air conditioning, where fitted, is adequate and well-maintained
08 Sanitary facilities are accessible, hygienic and working correctly
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09 The laundry facilities are in good working order
10 Adequate natural and artificial light is available
11 Noise and vibration experienced within the accommodation are within limits established by the
flag state
12 Recreational facilities are appropriate and in good working order, and may include TVs/DVDs
and sports equipment, including exercise equipment and games
09. Food and catering
01 The galley is clean, hygienic and in a good state of repair
02 Spaces used for the storage of food are clean, hygienic and in a good state of repair
03 Temperatures of refrigerators and freezers are appropriate
04 Food is of good quality and quantity and caters for different religious beliefs among the crew
05 Food is provided free of charge on board the vessel
06 Drinking water is of good quality and the quantity available is appropriate
07
Header Text
The cook is over 18 years of age and holds appropriate qualifications, in accordance with the
flag state's laws and regulations
Note: For ships with less than 10 crew no cook is required, but the crew handling food are to be trained
in food hygiene
08 All other catering staff are adequately trained (a training programme, posters, etc., may be
available)
10. Medical care on board ship and ashore
01 Health protection and medical care, including essential dental care is available and free of
charge to all seafarers
02 Seafarers have the right to visit a qualified medical doctor or dentist without delay in ports of
call, where practicable
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03 The ship's hospital is clean and hygienic and for medical use only it is not used as a cabin or
storage space
04 Medical equipment and supplies are provided and certified as per the flag state's requirements
05 Medical publications are available on board as per the flag state's requirements
06 An up-to-date list of radio contacts where medical advice can be obtained is readily available
07 The medical log and visit reports are kept up to date. A standard medical report form is used for
both onshore and on-board medical personnel and the completed forms are kept confidential
08 Documentary evidence of financial security related to shipowner's liability under Regulation 4.2
is to be available.
11. Social security
01 As a minimum, cover for medical care, sickness and injury benefit is provided
12. Health and safety protection and accident prevention
01 The applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policy, procedures and programmes are
in place and meet the flag state's legal OHS requirements
02 The people responsible for implementing OHS policies and procedures on board are clearly
designated and documented
03 Risk assessments are carried out and documented
04 Accidents and incidents are investigated and reported, and records are available
05 Safety committee meetings are held regularly, and minutes are available
06 All seafarers are aware of their responsibilities, which are clearly documented
07 On board training and familiarisation is carried out and records are available
08 Safe working practices are implemented
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09 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is readily available and used as appropriate for the task
10 PPE items are in-date, where appropriate, and arrangements are in place to obtain replacement
items when required
11 Appropriate measures are in place to address OHS risks associated with fatigue, drug and
alcohol use, smoking, asbestos, high and low temperatures, noise and vibration, infections
12 Health and safety inspections and surveillance are carried out regularly and documented
13 OHS risks associated with sub-contractors working on board are addressed. All sub-
contractors working on board are subject to documented control procedures
14 Procedures for elimination of harassment and bullying to be available
Procedures should be referenced in the DMLC Part II.
13. Access to shore-based welfare facilities
01 All seafarers have access to shore-based welfare facilities
14. Seafarers' complaints
01 Is there a complaints procedure on board?
02 Does each seafarer have a copy of the procedure?
03 Is there a complaints log on board?
04 Are complaints handled in a timely, fair and effective manner?
05 Are contact details available for the flag state and the competent authority in the seafarer's
country of residence?
15. Financial security for repatriation
01 A certificate or other documentary evidence of financial security issued by the financial security
provider
02 A copy to be posted in a conspicuous place on board where it is available to seafarers
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03 Where more than one financial security provider provides cover, the document provided by
each provider shall be carried on board
16. Financial security relating to shipowners' liability
01 A certificate or other documentary evidence of financial security issued by the financial security
provider
02 A copy to be posted in a conspicuous place on board where it is available to seafarers
03 Where more than one financial security provider provides cover, the document provided by
each provider shall be carried on board
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