The United Kingdom is the latest major shipping nation to ratify the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which came into force in late August. It had been one of only a handful of major maritime countries not to have signed, but ratification was confirmed by the UK's maritime regulatory body, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, in early August. The convention was set up in 2006 by the International Labour Organisation, but was only activated in August last year when the number of ratifying states passed 30, representing at least 33% of the world's tonnage. MLC, which entered force on 20 August, sets standards for seafarer working conditions, and is intended to become the fourth regulatory pillar for the maritime industry, along with SOLAS, MARPOL, and STCW. The UK fleet accounts for 1,383 vessels and 16.57Mgt, and there are an estimated 89,000 seafarers who work on UK-flagged ships, according to data from the country's Department for Transport.
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