As I mentioned in the monthly Megayacht News e-newsletter recently, the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006) could have an unintentional detrimental impact on the yachting business and yacht buying when it goes into effect in 2012. In brief, MLC 2006 sets out a “seafarers bill of rights,” to ensure crewmembers of all types of vessels have adequate working and living conditions, and that insurance and other benefits are made available. Several industry organizations are working with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN agency overseeing its implementation, to ensure that the voices of superyacht owners, crew, builders, designers, and others in the industry are heard.


To be clear, all of the industry groups support the spirit and goal of MLC 2006. Their concern lies with how some of the requirements would greatly reduce or even eliminate some guest staterooms and general gathering areas. As Rod Hatch, a Professional Yachtsmen’s Association (PYA) council member, explained to fellow members in April, “The outcome may even show in some cases that in order to accommodate the number of crew required to run a particular yacht, if they were all housed in MLC standard accommodation, the owner would have to move ashore.”


Because of its lobbying efforts, PYA was asked by the ILO Secretariat to conduct two studies to assess the potential impact of MLC 2006. The first study, already completed, solicited input from builders and designers, who submitted accommodations plans demonstrating pre- and post-MLC 2006 implementation. Now, PYA is conducting the second study. Written by the Seafarers International Research Centre, a global authority on issues affecting crewmembers, it intends to gather facts about crew employment and working conditions.


If you are the owner of a yacht, please make sure your captain and crew complete the survey. If you’re a broker, shipyard representative, or other industry representative with ties to crew, forward this on to them. There’s no need to be a PYA member. Those of you who are captains or crewmembers presently employed aboard a megayacht, the survey should take just 15 minutes. And even if you aren’t currently employed in either of those capacities but have been within the past year, please also fill it out. The PYA wants and needs as many voices as possible to present accurate findings.


PYA will release the results of both studies after presenting them to the ILO later this year.

Written by: Diane Byrne
Diane M. Byrne is the founder and editor of the daily updated website Megayacht News. A longtime yachting writer, she also contributes to Yachts International, Boat Exclusive, and other magazines. She is additionally a member of the International Superyacht Society Board of Directors and Vice Chair of the U.S. Superyacht Association.