Global health insurer Allianz Worldwide Care has launched of a compliant onshore health plan for shipping companies affected by the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006).
The Maritime Healthcare Plan covers the "Seafarers' Bill of Rights", which came into force in August 2013 and requires shipping companies to provide rights and protection to seafarers, including a minimum level of healthcare cover.
The MLC is already in force in many countries including Cyprus, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden. Maritime companies in other countries such as the UK, France, Germany and Belgium can make provisions now as their markets prepare for the implementation of the Convention in 2014.
56 countries have ratified the convention, which does not apply to fishing vessels, war ships or traditional build ships.
Susan Landers, head of marketing and client management at Allianz Worldwide Care said; "Allianz Worldwide Care took a pro-active approach to create a healthcare plan which addresses all of the MLC 2006 mandatory in-patient and out-patient medical requirements, as well offering as a number of optional in-patient, out-patient, dental and repatriation benefits.
"This allows employers to provide a higher level of healthcare cover and a more attractive employee benefit in this competitive industry where there is a scarcity of qualified and experienced maritime staff".
The MLC is already in force in many countries including Cyprus, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden. Maritime companies in other countries such as the UK, France, Germany and Belgium can make provisions now as their markets prepare for the implementation of the Convention in 2014.
