RULES FOR THE INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION OF
MARITIME LABOUR SYSTEMS
Chapter 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.1 General
1.1.1 Application*
1 The NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (hereinafter referred to as “the Society”) is to inspect and register a maritime labour
system in accordance with the provisions specified in the Rules for the Inspection and Registration of Maritime Labour
Systems (hereinafter referred to as “the Rules”) based on an application submitted by a shipowner.
2 The Rules apply to the maritime labour system for ships which are of 500 gross tonnage or more, engaged in
international voyages, and generally used for commercial purpose.
1.1.2 Equivalency*
When a maritime labour system is considered by the Society to be equivalent to one complying with the
requirements of the Rules, said maritime labour system may be deemed to comply with the Rules.
1.1.3 National Requirements
It is necessary to ensure that the maritime labour system not only complies with the requirements specified in this
Rules, but also complies with the national requirements of the flag-state with respect to maritime labour system surveys
and maritime labour requirements, etc. In addition, the Society may make special requirements as instructed by flag-
governments or the governments of the sovereign nations in which ships navigate.
1.1.4 Definitions*
For the purposes of the Rules, the following definitions apply unless otherwise specified:
(1) “Maritime Labour Convention” means the comprehensive convention concerning maritime work adopted at the
94th General Conference of the International Labour Organization in February 2006.
(2) “Maritime Labour Requirements” means those requirements deemed to be necessary by the Society referred to in
the Maritime Labour Convention, which are specified in the Appendix to this Rules.
(3) “Maritime Labour System” means a system built up to ensure compliance with the requirements related to seafarer
employment, safety, health and security which are specified in the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance
as well as the effective implementation and maintenance of decent working and living conditions for seafarers
under fair terms of employment.
(4) “Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance” (hereinafter referred to as “DMLC”) means the document referred
to in Regulation 5.1.3 of the Maritime Labour Convention, which consists of Part I which identifies the
requirements ships are to satisfy and matters to be inspected, and Part II which identifies measures to be adopted
to ensure on-going compliance and continuous improvement of the requirements specified in Part I.
(5) “Shipowner” means the owner of a ship, or another organization or person, such as a manager, agent, or bareboat
charterer, who has assumed responsibility and has agreed to take over the duties and responsibilities imposed on
shipowners in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention.
(6) “Certificate” refers to either a Maritime Labour Certificate (hereinafter referred to as “MLC”) or an Interim
Maritime Labour Certificate (hereinafter referred to as “Interim MLC”).
(7) “Periodical Inspection” means either the Renewal Inspection or the Intermediate Inspection specified in 3.4.
(8) “Anniversary Date” means the yearly date corresponding to the expiry date of the period of validity of a MLC,
which excludes the expiry date of the period of validity of a Certificate.
(9) “Ships Engaged in International Voyages” means those ships engaged in a voyage from one country to a port of
another country, or flying the flag of one country but operating from a port, or between ports, of another country.
(10) “Piracy” means an act described in article 101 in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982.
1
2023 Rules for the Inspection and Registration of Maritime Labour Systems (Chapter 1)