On the international shipping front, the Maritime Labor Convention of 2006 likely will receive its 30 ratifications and become the most comprehensive set of guidelines for seafarer welfare in our lives. Flag states failing to comply will face rigorous inspections of their ships entering international ports. Seafarers will benefit from consistent and progressive regulations regarding ship conditions, medical care, work hours and shore access.
Regarding seafarer welfare, the scourge of piracy shows no signs of abating. Seafarers transiting high-risk areas (and their families back home) face ongoing stress as geographic areas increase. Enlightened shipowners or crewing agencies will help seafarers cope with ongoing stress of transit, extreme conditions of captivity, and coping with the human aftermath upon release. It’s gratifying to see these human factor issues increasingly addressed in maritime conferences.
On the domestic front, Notice of Proposed Rule Making 46 CFR Subchapter M will dominate internal industry discussion and dialogue with the U.S. Coast Guard. As comment periods yield to regulation, we will see jockeying for position to establish baseline regulations for towing vessels, definition of towing safety management systems and possible creation of third-party auditors to inspect vessels.
Large transportation companies complying with the American Waterways Operators’ Responsible Carrier Program have seen this coming for years, but some small family owned companies will scramble to comply or sell out of the industry.