Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act 2014 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 7 · Health and Safety Protection and Accident Prevention
40. Shipowner’s duty to ensure safety and health of seafarers
Feedback & supportIt is the duty of a shipowner to take, so far as is reasonably practicable and in accordance with any standards prescribed by the Authority, such measures as are necessary, and as may be prescribed, to ensure the safety and health of the seafarers on board the shipowner’s ship.
shipowner
“shipowner”, in relation to a ship, means the owner of the ship, and includes —(a)the registered owner; or(b)in the absence of registration —(i)the person owning the ship; or(ii)any other person (such as the ship manager, agent or bareboat charterer) who has assumed responsibility for the operation of the ship from the owner and who, on assuming such responsibility, has agreed to take over the duties and responsibilities imposed on shipowners in accordance with the Convention, whether or not any other organisation or person fulfils certain of the duties or responsibilities on the shipowner’s behalf;
For the purposes of subsection (1), the measures necessary to ensure the safety and health of seafarers on board a ship include —
ship
“ship” has the meaning given by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, but does not include —(a)any vessel which navigates exclusively in inland waters or waters within, or closely adjacent to, sheltered waters or areas where the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Port) Regulations apply;(b)any warship or naval auxiliary;(c)any ship engaged in fishing or in similar pursuits;(d)any ship of traditional build such as dhows and junks;(e)any ship that is intended to be operated without any seafarer on board; and(f)any ship specified in an Order made by the Authority, with the approval of the Minister, declaring the categories of ships to be excluded from the application of this Act;
providing and maintaining for seafarers a work environment which is safe, without risk to health and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work;
ensuring that adequate safety measures are taken to prevent occupational accidents, injuries and diseases;
developing and implementing procedures for inspection, reporting and dealing with emergencies that may arise on board the ship; and
ensuring that the master and seafarers on board the ship have adequate instruction, information, training and supervision, especially with regard to young seafarers, as is necessary for them to comply with any prescribed measures.