From 2005, guarantees of remuneration for work and of passage home for employees on passenger- and cargo ships registered in the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) have been a registration requirement. Due to the recent amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), this requirement has been abolished.
The amendments in MLC are implemented by Regulation of 19 December 2017. All Norwegian passenger- and cargo ships in foreign trade must carry a documentation on board proving the company has security for wages and homeward journey etc. in case of abandonment.
Since the employees are covered through MLC, The Norwegian Maritime Authority has amended the regulations of 18 February 2005 No. 146, on guarantee of remuneration for work and of passage home for employees on ships registered in the Norwegian International Ship Register accordingly. This guarantee is no longer required for passenger- and cargo ships, only for mobile offshore units.
The MLC-guarantee is not a documentation requirement in connection with registrations in the NIS. A document must, however, be available on board for inspection in both port state controls and by the Norwegian Maritime Authority as flag state. Lack of documentation is ground for detention.
The amendment entered into force on 19 December 2017.