Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 147) - Costa Rica (Ratification: 1981)

Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Government's report again explains that there is no merchant fleet in Costa Rica, but that efforts are being made to establish detailed regulations on various matters dealt with in the Convention. The Committee is referring to such details in a new direct request.

The Committee recalls meanwhile that certain provisions of the Convention relate to employment on foreign-registered ships (notably Article 2(d)(ii) and Article 3 concerning engagement procedures within the territory; and Article 4 concerning port state action). It hopes the Government will have due regard to these provisions and supply details of all steps taken to implement them.

Article 5, paragraph 1, provides that the Convention is open to ratification by States which are parties to certain instruments of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Committee recalls that, under paragraph 2, a State which, like Costa Rica, is not already a party to the IMO instruments listed in paragraph 1 may ratify the Convention if it gives an undertaking to fulfil the requirements of paragraph 1. Although such an undertaking was duly given by the Government, and the Government earlier indicated the matter has been examined, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate in the near future the measures taken to implement its undertaking in this respect.