Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will amend legislation on minimum safe manning levels on merchant ships to require the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to consult maritime trade unions when a shipowner applies for a change to a vessel's safe manning certificate.

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.

However, under the current regulations MSN 1868 Section 6 ‘Consultation and Schedule’ requires owners to:

‘…. 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.’