Maritime Law, Conventions and National Regulations (STCW, MARPOL, SOLAS, MLC, ISM)
Maritime Law, Conventions and National Regulations
This domain covers the instruments an engineer is inspected against: STCW, MARPOL, SOLAS, MLC and the ISM Code, plus the role of the flag administration.
What each instrument does
- STCW: chapters I to VIII, certificates of competency and endorsements, watchkeeping, rest hours, 2010 Manila amendments.
- SOLAS: I general, II-1 construction, II-2 fire, III life-saving appliances, IV radio, V navigation, IX ISM, XI-1 and XI-2 (ISPS).
- MARPOL Annexes: I oil, II noxious liquid substances, III harmful substances in packaged form, IV sewage, V garbage, VI air.
- MLC 2006: Titles 1 to 5 covering minimum requirements, conditions of employment, accommodation, health protection and compliance; DMLC Part I and Part II carried on board.
- ISM: safety management system, master's overriding authority, DOC for the company, SMC for the ship.
Worked example
A Document of Compliance is issued on 15 March 2023, valid five years.
- Annual verification must fall within three months before to three months after each anniversary: 15 December 2023 to 15 June 2024 for the first.
- If that verification is missed without extension, the DOC can be withdrawn and the ship's SMC loses its basis. The SMC itself needs an intermediate verification between the second and third anniversary dates.
- The lesson: track certificate windows on a board, not from memory.
Enforcement
Flag state issues certificates and surveys; port state control inspects and may detain; MARINA is the administration for Philippine-flagged ships.
Traps
Quoting MARPOL Annex V distances for plastics, which are never dischargeable; confusing DOC (company) with SMC (ship); assuming a certificate is valid because the expiry date has not passed when a survey window was missed; treating MLC as shore-only law.