Page 23: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Jul/Aug 2017)

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MLC, 2006 was painstakingly built over a period of six with ownership everyone feels they are part of the deal and years, and before it there were 72 separate instruments – bind- they are going to make it work,” said Dr. Doumbia-Henry. ing ones and non-binding ones – that sought to serve the same “The idea was to get an instrument that was better, that was purpose. “We had too many instruments that were unevenly more effective and that would have an impact on the working ratifed and implemented and thus had reduced impact,” she lives of seafarers, making living and working conditions bet- succinctly summarized. ter, give shipowners a level playing feld and governments a “So I began a major exercise in engaging governments, em- single set of rules of the game. That was my mission. I had ployers (shipowners) and trade unions (representing seafar- tremendous support, and I’m very proud, as it is one of the ers) to look at making this body of international legislation best ratifed in the shortest timeframe possible of an ILO in- more effective,” she said. This “long haul” started in 2000 strument when you consider its wide-ranging scope.” and ended with the adoption six years later of a single Con- The work has paid dividends, and Dr. Doumbia-Henry cred- vention, MLC, 2006, that effectively replaced 68 internation- its Port State Control as being tremendously effective, citing al legal instruments. the Paris MOU as an example in recording 17.4% detentions

Dr. Doumbia-Henry is justifably proud of the effort, not representing 113 ships after the frst campaign one year after only for what it means to the world’s 1.2 million seafarers, but the entry into force of the Convention. “This had never hap- from the universal buy-in with ratifcation by 84 countries in- pened before in those numbers, because now they had clear cluding all of the major ship registries covering approximately identifying factors and targets.” She also referred to the role 91% of the world’s ships. “This ended up being an incredible and the impact of the ILO Committee of Experts on the ap- enterprise, but one that has been my most rewarding venture. plication of Conventions and Recommendations (Committee

It took a lot of energy, a lot of sleepless nights, but at the end of Experts), which is the body that has the mandate at the in- of the day it worked.” ternational level to monitor and evaluate legal and practical

The intensity of the exercise was not only to bring all 68 legal implementation by ILO members States of the provisions of instruments together under one umbrella, but to give it teeth. ILO Conventions. The Committee of Experts began monitor- “The most important thing was to get ownership, because ing compliance with the MLC, 2006 in 2014.

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