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The Rights of a Crew Member
As a seafarer, you have rights - employment rights, legal rights, trade union rights and human rights. The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) is an international agreement of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that sets out seafarers' rights to decent conditions of work. It is sometimes called the 'Seafarers' Bill of Rights.' It applies to all seafarers, including those with jobs in hotels and other passenger services on cruise ships and commercial yachts.
As of January 2019, a total of 96 countries had ratified the MLC 2006, which has resulted in more than 91% of the world's shipping fleet being regulated.
Every Crew Member has the right to:
- His/Her convictions
- Express His/Her convictions
- Request help from another crew member, as long as the person in question understands that the other has a right to say no
- Clarify communications to enhance interpersonal* relationships.
Interpersonal skills are sometimes also referred to as people skills or communication skills. Interpersonal skills are the skills a person uses to communicate and interact with others. They include persuasion, active listening, delegation and leadership.
The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) is an international agreement of the International Labour Organisation ('ILO') which sets out seafarers' rights to decent conditions of work. It is sometimes called the 'Seafarers' Bill of Rights.
Shipping is a commercial reality and profit-making is part of the operation, consequently, the crew member must perform their duties sincerely and to the fullest of their capabilities. The person should also be responsible for the three elements of the shipping operation; the company, government, and individual. There is dignity in labour!
Crew Member Responsibilities
The crew member has responsibilities like the following:
- Obedience, respect, discipline and following orders of his superiors.
- Abiding company policies as laid down in safety manuals and rules and regulations governing Flag State requirements and other mandatory legislation.
- Adhering to safety & environment protection policy at all times, assist fellow seamen in distress, search & rescue operations and oil pollution mitigation operations.
Crew Member Employment Conditions
The crew member employment conditions can be described as:
- Employment contract.
- His/her rights.
- National and international requirements.
Drugs and Alcohol
There are international and national regulations against the use of, carrying or distribution of any drug or alcohol. The punishment for the above can be very severe. Examples from the USA:
- Bringing in 0–5 kg cocaine, LSD, and heroin will give not less than five years in prison and up to USD 5 - 25 million in fines.
- Bringing in marijuana or hashish can result in up to 5 years in prison and a penalty of up to USD 250,000.
Effects on The Human Body
A moderate intake of alcohol is relatively harmless to the human body, while drugs may cause more severe issues depending on the type and strength. Both drugs and alcohol can lead to a variety of health complications over time or even immediate consequences, including death. They both affect the human body in different ways but can both cause problems independent of the other.
A common misconception is that alcohol provides heat to the body in cold climates - When you drink alcohol, your blood vessels dilate. This sends more blood to your skin which makes you feel warmer, but you're actually losing your body heat to the outside environment faster.
Drug abuse can get you involved in trafficking or smuggling. It is so widespread that customs authority from different countries is boarding the vessels for drug search, so-called narcotics and contraband search. The penalty will be very severe for the crew member and his family if caught with any drug in his possession. Drug trafficking or smuggling will also directly affect the company since the vessel will be detained or arrested in the port where the authorities found the drugs.
Drug & Alcohol Policy
All companies have a Drug & Alcohol Policy within their quality system, telling the employees the amount of alcohol that is accepted to consume onboard their vessels. Today it is very common to find 'zero-tolerance vessels' where the company has zero acceptance of alcohol onboard. All employees have to sign this policy upon employment and if the crew member breaks this agreement, they will lose their job.
The Port States, Flag States and other authorities have different methods to detect drug or alcohol abuse amongst crew members onboard. The most common methods are:
- Observing behaviour and environment,
- Breathalyser test,
- Urine drug screen,
- Blood test, and
- Many times the testing is ordered by the company, and the vessel will be visited by a representative from a drug screening company without notice when the yacht is alongside.
Health and Hygiene Onboard
It is the moral responsibility of all onboard to observe hygiene and promote good health. Cleanliness and good housekeeping are fundamental to good health. The yacht’s personnel must be highly motivated to create a healthy atmosphere onboard. There is a definite relation between human needs, motivation and delegation. These can be powerful tools for motivating people. It is the moral responsibility of all onboard to observe hygiene and promote good health.