US non-ratification of MLC 2006 — implications for US-flag seafarer abandonment
2013 · global · status: regime summary
- Opened
- 2013-08-20
- Closed
- open
- Port
- global
- Flag
- USA
- Shipowner
- n/a
- Insurer named on DMLC
- n/a
- Seafarers affected
- aggregate
- Nationalities
- USA
Summary
The United States has not ratified MLC 2006 — including the 2014 amendments and Standard A2.5.2. Consequently, US-flag vessels are NOT subject to the A2.5.2 financial-security framework. US crews abandoned abroad rely on: (a) US Coast Guard consular coordination, (b) Union CBA-specific wage protection, (c) the Seaman's Wage Act (46 U.S.C. §11106) for wage-recovery, and (d) US bankruptcy proceedings against the shipowner. This creates asymmetric protection versus MLC-party-flagged crews on foreign trade — a persistent seafarer-advocacy issue. The USCG maintains partial equivalence via domestic regulation but the international-arbitration + insurer-of-record framework of A2.5.2 does not apply.
Outcome for crew
regime overview — not a specific case.
Source
Resolution / documentation via: USCG + ITF Global + Union coordination
https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/HumanElement/Pages/AbandonmentOfSeafarers.aspx
Related rights + resources
- · Abandonment rights (MLC A2.5.2) — the regulatory framework this case is governed by
- · Unpaid wages
- · MLC 2006 financial-security providers directory
- · International Group P&I Clubs