CMM Crew Management Manual (CMM)
Onboard Crew Management 		Doc No.: CMM-6.13
Revision: 01
Date: 15 Oct 2024
Issued by: DPA
Approved by: MD

6.13 ONBOARD CREW MANAGEMENT

6.13.1 Overview

The Crew Manager shall ensure that the Crew Cell communicate regularly with the vessel to ensure that they are aware of any crewing issues related to their allocated vessels. It is critical that they establish a professional working relationship with each vessel’s Master and other Senior Officers. It is recommended that a regular telephone call is made to each vessel’s Master to discuss onboard crewing issues.

The Crew Manager responsible for the crew management of the vessel must ensure that each Senior Officer (Master, Chief Engineer, Chief Officer, and Second Engineer) is contacted by telephone between one and three weeks prior to the Senior Officer signing off from the vessel. The specific purpose of the telephone contact is to:

6.13.2 Minimum Safe Manning Certificates (MSMCs)

This applies to the supply of seafarers to vessels under technical and crew management contracts.

Manning levels for vessels in the managed fleet (full management and manning only contracts) are determined in accordance with relevant international and Flag State legislation, union agreements, and the specific requirements of the vessel and the owner.

Applications for MSMCs on fully managed vessels are made by the Fleet Cell. In the case of crewing only vessels, the responsibility lies with the vessel’s owners.

The latest MSMC should be available for the Crew Cell.

6.13.3 Vessel Mail

Outgoing crew mail is consolidated into packages and dispatched according to the vessel’s itinerary.

All packages are addressed to the Master and clearly state the vessel name, relevant Agent, and destination.

All packages also bear a unique consecutive number, a record of which is made together with the date and mode of dispatch.

The Master acknowledges receipt of mail packages by signing and returning a copy of the ship’s mail form.

6.13.4 Collective Bargaining Agreement ‘CBA’ (or Standard Conditions of Service ‘COS’)

Where a Collective Bargaining Agreement (or standard Conditions of Service) forms all or part of a seafarer’s employment agreement, a copy of that agreement shall be provided onboard and available with the Master. Where the language of the seafarers’ employment agreement and any applicable collective bargaining agreement is not in English, both documents shall always be available on board also in English. These documents shall also be subject to Port state control and should be readily available for the seafarers on board for reference purposes. The agreement and/or COS should contain all items as required by MLC2006.

6.13.5 Employment Agreements / Contracts

All seafarer employment agreements / contracts shall contain the minimum requirements of the MLC2006 and those governed by the seafarer’s national law. The crew manager responsible for manning operation of the vessel should ensure that all contracts are issued in compliance with this procedure and this should be verified at regular intervals.

All seafarers signing a seafarers’ employment agreement shall be given an opportunity to examine and seek advice on the agreement before signing.

The requirements of the agreement/contract shall be also verified by PSC from time to time during vessel inspections and these should be as per MLC2006 requirements.

6.13.6 Record of Employment

Seafarers' discharge book containing record of their employment must be kept up to date. This document shall not contain any statement as to the quality of the seafarers' work or as to their wages. The form of the discharge book, the particulars to be recorded, and the manner in which such particulars are to be entered shall be determined by national law. Masters should ensure that prior to sign off, the seafarers' discharge book is updated, signed, stamped, and handed back to the seafarer.

The seafarer's discharge book document should contain sufficient information, with a translation in English, to facilitate the acquisition of further work or to satisfy the sea-service requirements for upgrading or promotion. Certificate of Watch-keeping may also be issued as required in addition to the seafarer discharge book.

6.13.7 Early Termination of Seafarer Employment

This shall be as per the terms and conditions of the seafarer employment agreement and/or Collective Bargaining Agreements (or standard Conditions of Service) which also take into consideration National laws and Regulations of the vessel’s flag state. The duration of the minimum notice period for early termination in all cases cannot be shorter than seven (7) days.

Early termination of the employment agreement due to compassionate or other urgent reasons recognised by National laws/Flag state and MLC2006 requirements should be dealt with without penalty to the seafarer.

A12 - Application for Disembarkation to be sent to Crew Manager and Copy retained onboard.