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EU Directive concerning certain flag State responsibilities for compliance with and enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention

On 10 December, the new EU "Directive concerning certain flag State responsibilities for compliance with and enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006" was published in the Official Journal of the EU.

The Directive will now enter into force on 30 December 2013. and Member States will have to transpose the Directive into national law by 31 March 2015. This Directive lays down requirements for the Member States to establish enforcement and monitoring mechanisms (including inspections) to ensure that ships flying their flag are in compliance with the MLC.

The text also includes provisions on the procedures to handle on-board complaints related to the MLC and how to implement corrective measures. Another piece of pertinent legislation, the Directive for the enforcement of the MLC through Port State Control, was already published before the summer and entered into force on 20 August.