Crew costs featured high on the list in a recent Moore Stephens survey on concerns that the industry has expressed in recent times. T'was ever thus, but with the soon to be in force Maritime Labour Convention, the industry seems to be in more of a flap than usual. Exactly how things will pan out will depend of course on how flag states implement the convention guidelines, so watch this space.
For those of you who like apps, Lloyd's Register and the UK P&I Club have developed the ILO MLC Pocket Checklist in both a conventional format and, for the first time ever, a smartphone app, to help ship operators comply with the convention's requirements and reduce the risk of port state control detentions.
The pocket checklist app serves as an interactive tool that enables ships' crews and their managers to view the requirements of the ILO MLC and check off required activities as they are completed. The app is free and available for iPhone, iPad, Android devices, Windows phone and BlackBerry.
