V.Ships commits to early implementation of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) and certification with Lloyd’s Register
22/02/2010
Lloyd’s Register signed a contract on Friday February 19, 2010 with V.Ships to provide services to help ensure that V.Ships is able to secure certification for the International Labour Organisation’s new maritime labour convention.
Lloyd’s Register’s experience and preparedness has been recognised in the first fully commercial, global, fleet-wide MLC, 2006 contract to be announced.
Glasgow - Lloyd’s Register signed a contract on Friday February 19, 2010 with V.Ships to provide services to help ensure that V.Ships is able to secure certification for the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) new maritime labour convention, MLC, 2006 – expected to come into force in early 2012.
Matt Dunlop, Chief Operating Officer Shipmanagement, V.Ships, explained why preparing for the new ILO convention is so important: “We are committed to the continued wellbeing of the seafarers that sail in all our ships. We welcome the MLC, 2006 and the minimum standards it will require across the industry. It is important that adequate standards for seafarers’ terms of employment - their accommodation, their recreation, catering, health and medical care, their welfare and social conditions - are all protected by convention.
“We want to be able to demonstrate that we are leading the way in preparing for this convention and how seriously we take the safeguarding of seafarers’ working conditions. If we look after our people we know that they will look after our ships.”
Lloyd's Register was approached by V.Ships’ Shipmanagement Division to complete an ILO gap analysis, identifying any areas for development, as well as training and certification services for all V.Ship Shipmanagement entities, providing a unified and global approach to managing MLC, 2006 compliance.
Tom Boardley, Lloyd’s Register’s Marine Director commenting in Glasgow said: “V.Ships and Lloyd’s Register have established a very high degree of trust as the platfom from which we can deliver the high, and consistent, levels of service that the world’s biggest shipmanager needs. We have worked very hard to get to grips with the requirements of the MLC and we are very pleased to have been rewarded with this significant contract.”
Lloyd’s Register has now completed more than 100 MLC, 2006 trial inspections worldwide and has more than 45 trained ILO qualified inspectors able to provide MLC, 2006 services – a number that will grow as further inspectors are trained. These inspections have been carried out on the full range of ship types from the largest cruise liners to small coastal vessels and with this experience Lloyd’s Register can greatly assist companies in their preparation for the implementation of the MLC, 2006 and provide a full range of MLC related services, including certification.
Lloyd’s Register works closely with V.Ships on a global basis, providing classification and ISM/ISPS services to many of its managed ships and, more recently, increasing number of consultancy services. A significant recent project was an environmental culture evaluation report (MARPOL I) project where, over a year, Lloyd’s Register identified and reported on systemic issues that may threaten V.Ships' environmental performance.
In this new project, V.Ships, supported by Lloyd’s Register, will benefit from the smooth implementation of MLC, 2006 well ahead of the regulatory entry-into-force.
Ends
Notes to editors
Lloyd’s Register provides independent assurance to companies operating high risk capital intensive assets in energy and transportation to enhance the safety of life, property and the environment, so helping its clients ensure safe, responsible and sustainable supply chains. The Group comprises charities and non-charitable companies, with the latter supporting the charities in their main goal.
V.Ships Ship Management
Ship Management comprising Technical Management and Crew Management is the core service offering of the Group. V.Ships is the Group's main provider of the technical management services which are geared to the efficient operation of a diverse range of asset types. V.Ships Leisure is the leading provider of integrated deck & engine and hotel services to cruise vessels, ferries and super yachts. Ship Management is supported by a comprehensive range of specialist services. Contracting services complement and further strengthen V.Ships' experience and expertise as the world's largest provider of independent technical management. A growing number of products and services are available through V.Ships' participation in the leading contracting association, MARCAS. www.vgrouplimited.com
A photograph of the contract signing is available from news@lr.org or to 
. Caption: Pictured in V.Ships Shipmanagement’s Glasgow headquarters on Friday: Left to right: Tom Boardley, Lloyd's Register's Marine Director; René Zwart, Lloyd’s Register EMEA's Marine Services Area Manager for Scotland & NE England; V.Ships Management’s COO, Matt Dunlop and CEO Capt. Bob Bishop. Image to be used in relation to this press release only.
For media queries, contact:
Nicholas Brown
Marine Communications Manager
Lloyd's Register
T +44 (0)20 7423 1706
F +44 (0)20 7423 2213
E nick.brown@lr.org
Celebrating 250 years of service
In 1760, 11 men met in Edward Lloyd’s coffee house to talk about publishing a list of ships, a register to define their quality and safeguard life and property carried on them. In the years since then we have applied our expertise across the energy and transportation sectors, helping to make the world a safer place. In 2010 we are celebrating 250 years of service and quality and we are looking forward to the new challenges the future brings.
Lloyd's Register
71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS, UK
T +44 (0)20 7709 9166
F +44 (0)20 7488 4796
E news@lr.org
www.lr.org
Services are provided by members of the Lloyd’s Register Group.
For further information see www.lr.org/entities
Attachments