The Liberian Registry has carried out the first ship inspection for compliance with the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), ahead of its entry into force.

The inspection was performed on board the 7,000 teu containership UASC Yanbu, owned by D Oltmann Reederei GmbH & Co KG of Bremen, Germany, and managed by Anglo Eastern Ship Management Limited, at the port of Hamburg on March 29, 2011.

Commending Anglo Eastern Ship Management Limited and the ship’s master and crew for their professionalism in maintaining a high standard of working and living conditions on board the ship, the inspector, Capt Wolfgang Werner, representing the Liberian Registry, recorded no deficiencies, and the Liberian Administration will now issue the Maritime Labour Certificate accordingly.

Liberia led the way in ratifying the Maritime Labour Convention and the administration has professionally trained nearly one hundred of its global network of auditors, located in all major and most minor ports, to provide effective and efficient MLC inspections and verification of Liberian-flag ships.

The Liberian Administration has provided shipowners and operators with detailed guidance on complying with the requirements of MLC. And the registry has received a large number of requests from Liberian-flagged vessels for voluntary compliance with MLC ahead of its entry into force