Repatriation under MLC 2006: who pays for the trip home

What is repatriation under MLC 2006?

Repatriation under MLC 2006 is the seafarer’s return home after a contract ends or in another situation where international standards give a right to go back. It is a core protection: a seafarer should not be left without a way home after a voyage. The official standard text is available in ILO Normlex.

Who pays for the trip home?

The shipowner usually pays. Under MLC 2006 standards, the shipowner must cover at least the passage to the chosen repatriation destination, plus accommodation and food from the moment the seafarer leaves the ship until arrival at the destination. National rules or a collective agreement may add further payments. The broader right to repatriation is also explained on the ILO page.

If the shipowner cannot meet these duties, a financial security system must kick in. That is how MLC 2006 protects seafarers in abandonment cases, when a company effectively leaves a person without support.

When is repatriation mandatory?

Repatriation is mandatory when the contract ends abroad, when the shipowner terminates it, when the seafarer ends it for justified reasons, or when the seafarer can no longer safely perform the job. ILO also lists typical cases: illness or injury, shipwreck, the shipowner’s insolvency, or refusal to sail into a war zone without the seafarer’s consent.

What should a seafarer do if the company delays?

If the company drags out the return, the seafarer should keep records, ask for a written departure date, and not wait for vague promises. The practical path is simple:

• keep the contract and all messages;
• request repatriation in writing;
• contact the union for help;
• submit the case through contacts or the report form.

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