Directive 2009/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the CouncilDangos y teitl llawn

[F1 Article 18a U.K. Onshore MLC 2006 complaint-handling procedures

1. A complaint by a seafarer alleging a breach of the requirements of MLC 2006 (including seafarers’ rights) may be reported to an inspector in the port at which the seafarer’s ship has called. In such cases, the inspector shall undertake an initial investigation.

2. Where appropriate, given the nature of the complaint, the initial investigation shall include consideration of whether the on-board complaint procedures provided for under Regulation 5.1.5 of MLC 2006 have been pursued. The inspector may also conduct a more detailed inspection in accordance with Article 13 of this Directive.

3. The inspector shall, where appropriate, seek to promote a resolution of the complaint at the ship-board level.

4. In the event that the investigation or the inspection reveals a non-conformity that falls within the scope of Article 19, that Article shall apply.

5. Where paragraph 4 does not apply and a complaint by a seafarer related to matters covered by MLC 2006 has not been resolved at the ship-board level, the inspector shall forthwith notify the flag State, seeking, within a prescribed deadline, advice and a corrective plan of action to be submitted by the flag State. A report of any inspection carried out shall be transmitted by electronic means to the inspection database referred to in Article 24.

6. Where the complaint has not been resolved following action taken in accordance with paragraph 5, the port State shall transmit a copy of the inspector’s report to the Director-General of the International Labour Office. The report shall be accompanied by any reply received within the prescribed deadline from the competent authority of the flag State. The appropriate seafarers’ and shipowners’ organisations in the port State shall be similarly informed. In addition, statistics and information regarding complaints that have been resolved shall be regularly submitted by the port State to the Director-General of the International Labour Office.

Such submissions are provided in order that, on the basis of such action as may be considered appropriate and expedient, a record is kept of such information and brought to the attention of parties, including seafarers’ and shipowners’ organisations, which might be interested in availing themselves of relevant recourse procedures.

7. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Article, implementing powers shall be conferred on the Commission regarding the setting-up of a harmonised electronic format and procedure for the reporting of follow-up actions taken by Member States. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 31(3).

8. This Article shall be without prejudice to Article 18. The fourth paragraph of Article 18 shall also apply to complaints relating to matters covered by MLC 2006.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Inserted by Directive 2013/38/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 August 2013 amending Directive 2009/16/EC on port State control (Text with EEA relevance).