These guidelines have been produced to help shipping companies choose reputable manning agencies and to ensure that seafarers are recruited in line with the requirements of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC, 2006).

The guidelines aim to:

• Provide clear advice to companies on what to consider when identifying a manning agency;
• Advise shipping or ship management companies which have their own internal or ‘owned’ manning agencies, on how to operate them in line with legal requirements and best practice;
• Ensure companies know how to audit manning agencies to the IMO International Safety Management Code (ISM) and the ILO MLC, 2006 requirements;
• Encourage governments to operate systems to regulate recruitment and placement services for seafarers in accordance with MLC, 2006 through licensing or alternative means;
• Advise shipowners what to do when targeted by fraudulent operators that falsely advertise using their name;
• Help shipowners ensure their relationship with their manning agencies upholds seafarers’ rights and welfare; and
• Strengthen the provisions in the MLC, 2006.