From December 23, 2024 MLC inspectors will have to pay attention to the new MLC 2006 amendments (2022) which are listed below:

1. Amendment to Regulation 1.4 (Recruitment and placement), is intended to ensure that seafarers are informed of their rights in relation to the obligation of recruitment and placement services to maintain a system of protection to compensate seafarers for monetary losses, Responsibility of the shipowner and/or placement agency. This can be verified by the interview of the seafarers, but actioned by the Flag States where the manning agency is located.
2. Amendment to Regulation 2.5 (Repatriation), is intended to further facilitate the prompt repatriation of seafarers, including when they are deemed abandoned and to safeguard seafarers who may be placed on ships where seafarer have recently been abandoned. This item can’t be verified onboard, but has to be actioned by the Flag/Port States.
3. Amendment to Regulation 3.1 (Accommodation and recreational facilities), is intended to ensure that seafarers are provided with appropriate social connectivity by ship-owners and that Member States provide internet access in their ports. The social connectivity include the social media and internet, seafarers shall be provided with access to ship-to-shore communications, including internet facilities.
4. Amendment to Regulation 3.2 (Food and catering), it provides that drinking water of suitable quality shall be made available for seafarers free of charge and highlights the importance of balanced meals on board.
5. Amendment to Regulation 4.1 (Medical care on board ship and ashore), it provides that Member States shall ensure the prompt disembarkation of seafarers in need of immediate medical care from ships in its territory and access to medical facilities ashore for the provision of appropriate treatment. It is further intended to facilitate the repatriation of the body or ashes of seafarers who have died on board. This item has to be actioned by the Flag/Port States.
6. Amendment to Regulation 4.3 (Health and safety protection and accident prevention), is intended to ensure that seafarers have appropriately-sized personal protective equipment.
7. Amendment to Regulation 4.3 (Health and safety protection and accident prevention), it provides that all deaths of seafarers shall be adequately investigated, recorded and reported annually to the ILO to be published in a global register. This item has to be actioned by the Flag/Port States.
8. Amendment to Appendix A2-I (Evidence of financial security under Regulation 2.5, paragraph 2) and Appendix A4-I (Evidence of financial security under Regulation 4.2). They intend to facilitate the functioning of the system of financial security by accepting a reference to the name of the registered owner of the ship when it is different from the ship-owner. The MLC inspector will check the name of ship-owner on the P&I financial securities.