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<p>There are no plans to amend legislation on minimum safe manning levels on merchant
ships to require the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to consult maritime trade
unions when a shipowner applies for a change to a vessel’s safe manning document.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>However, under the current regulations MSN 1868 Section 6 ‘Consultation
and Schedule’ requires owners to:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>‘…. consult with the
Master, seafarers, seafarers’ representatives (where applicable) and the MCA on their
proposed manning levels and draw up a schedule [of manning] accordingly…. If agreement
cannot be reached ….the MCA will consider the views put forward and if necessary require
the schedule to be revised. Where disagreement occurs it may be necessary to arrange
a practical demonstration of the crew’s ability to carry out the essential tasks in
the context of the principles of safe manning.’</p><p> </p>
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