Maritime Expert Calls for Enhanced MLC 2006 Enforcement After BlueRights Conference

Prof. Dr Senka Šekularac-Ivošević has called for comprehensive solutions to address enforcement gaps in the Maritime Labour Convention following the BlueRights International Conference on the Protection of Health at Sea held in March. The maritime law expert identified crew abandonment cases and inadequate protection of seafarers' human rights as persistent challenges requiring immediate attention.

The conference highlighted systemic failures in implementing MLC 2006 provisions, particularly in areas of medical care, repatriation, and wage protection. Recent industry data shows crew abandonment incidents have increased 23% since 2020, with over 400 vessels reported to the International Maritime Organization database for leaving seafarers stranded without pay or provisions.

Šekularac-Ivošević emphasized that current port state control mechanisms lack coordination between flag states, port authorities, and labour organizations. The BlueRights initiative, launched by maritime stakeholders across Europe, aims to establish standardized protocols for health protection at sea and strengthen enforcement of existing labour standards.

The conference findings will be presented to the International Labour Organization's Maritime Session in October, with proposed amendments to strengthen penalties for MLC violations and expand port state control authority over labour-related detentions.