Community
Articles, guides, tools and resources written by seafarers. Got a question about one specific employer? Ask it on that company’s discussions tab.
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) is the most important document for your career at sea. It is often called the "seafarers' bill of rights" and it applies to virtually every commercial vessel worldwide. Yet most seafarers I meet have only a vague understanding of what it actually says.
What is the MLC?
Adopted by the International Labour Organization in 2006 and entered into force in 2013, the MLC sets minimum working and living standards for all seafarers on commercial vessels. As of 2026, it has been ratified by over 100 countries representing more than 96% of world shipping tonnage. This means it applies to almost every vessel you are likely to work on.