CHIRP emphasises that crew living conditions were found inadequate during essential service repairs. According to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), management must provide suitable alternative accommodation, whether commercial or private, and health, safety, and environmental (HSE) regulations take precedence during dry-docking periods regardless of vessel size or purpose.
Moreover, the master has a duty of care toward the crew, always ensuring their well-being. During dry dock, the vessel encountered hazardous operations that management should have addressed promptly. The owner’s and manager’s lack of response to crew concerns highlights a poor safety culture within the company.
It’s important to emphasise that standards must be strictly applied whether the vessel is MLC-compliant or a private yacht.
If a proper assessment of the work during the dry dock had been planned, the planned work could have been carefully managed. Management must ensure an experienced team of officers is brought in to manage the dry dock.
