Page 31: of Marine News Magazine (April 2015)

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which speci? c provisions are grouped vessels are very much in line with the by standard and/or enforcement. requirements of MLC2006 and ABS

Harvey Gulf – despite being a Habitability notations already.” For

U.S. ? ag owner primarily operat- Guidry and Carroll, the issue is quite ing in U.S. waters – was arguably simple. It’s about a safe, functional already way out in front of the MLC and healthy working environment. code even before it came into effect. And, the strategy works. Carroll in-

Mike Carroll, Harvey Gulf’s Senior sists, “Even in lean times, our crews

VP of New Construction and Chief have come to expect a standard of liv-

Naval Architect, told MarineNews ing above the average in vessels just a in March, “MLC2006 is relevant for few years ago. It is during these lean vessels designed in accordance with times that crews appreciate the impor-

IMO requirements. Harvey Gulf has tance of the investment by HGIM to always considered the welfare of its improve the features of these vessels.” crews, regardless of the regulations. The newly delivered Harvey Energy

The regulations are always a mini- is a perfect example. Delivered and on mum standard to be met; however the water, the LNG/dual fuel aspect of we have always strived to exceed the the vessel and cutting edge equipment minimum standards for vessel design. in virtually every aspect of its design

In our new build construction vessel leads the way for other U.S. operators program, these vessels are designed in to follow suit or get left behind. Nev- accordance with IMO requirements ertheless, the interior out? tting of the including the Special Purpose Ships state-of-the-art vessel is often over- (SPS) Code and MLC2006. The de- looked. Carroll explains, “Previous to sign intent for these vessels is to be the LNG vessels, we had already made capable of servicing the offshore in- a corporate decision to improve the dustry worldwide without limitation. welfare of the crew on previous new-

For this reason, meeting and exceed- build programs. The level of out? tting ing the latest regulations regarding on the LNG vessels is simply a contin-

Seafarer welfare was important not uation of the HGIM philosophy to im- only as a function of potentially oper- prove the welfare of the crew by means ating in countries which have adopted of more habitable accommodations.”

MLC2006 but also in response to

Charterer’s request for vessels meeting Compliant or Benevolent – the latest IMO requirements.” or is it both?

Carroll continues, “The welfare of While the futuristic Harvey En- our vessel crew is just as important as ergy is richly appointed, it is, at the meeting the Charters’ expectations. same time, not MLC compliant. On

As such our vessels are arranged and the other hand, the two construction built above and above the bare Class/ vessels under construction (at Eastern

Flag/IMO requirements. Many of our Shipbuilding) will be. Those boats, in

The MLC code for dummies:

Title 1: Minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship

Title 2: Conditions of employment

Title 3: Accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering

Title 4: Health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection

Title 5: Compliance and enforcement www.marinelink.com