When will DNV be ready to provide voluntary MLC 2006 certification?

We aim to provide a voluntary certification service for our customers, starting in the fall of 2008. This service aims to facilitate the entry into force and compliance with the Convention requirements for key customers. We aim to train some inspectors from each region by July 2008 in order to provide such services.

At this early stage most flag States will not have their regulations in place and it must be noted that flag States are responsible for implementing the Convention requirements through national regulations (to be identified in the DMLC part II) and the shipowner’s responsibility is for procedures “adopted to ensure ongoing compliance with the national requirements between inspections and the measures proposed to ensure that there is continuous improvement”.

Though there is some latitude in the convention for implementation through “substantial equivalence”, we do believe that most flag States will implement the requirements as is. Due to this and the expected rush for certification in the months before entry into force, we do believe that it will be beneficial to make use of the voluntary certification service.

The voluntary certification cervices will be conducted through verification of compliance with the Convention requirements (and not flag State requirements). We aim to have an effective service (mainly focusing on any flag State requirements) when transferring from a voluntary certificate of compliance to the Maritime Labour Certificate.