8/13 – Health and safety

Since the Maritime Labor Act took effect on 1 August 2013, the responsibility for monitoring working and living conditions aboard merchant ships flying the German Flag has been assigned to the Berufsgenossenschaft Verkehr (BG Verkehr). Previously, the states' occupational health and safety offices were also responsible for monitoring occupational health and safety on board, which sometimes led to double inspections.

The legislator justified the centralization of responsibilities with the BG Verkehr as follows:

“The Berufsgenossenschaft is entrusted with inspecting all working and living conditions on board. The states’ previous responsibilities for inspecting occupational health and safety, working hours, youth labour protection, and medical equipment (on-board pharmacy) are transferred to the Berufsgenossenschaft as the federal government’s representative. A single-source inspection by the Berufsgenossenschaft creates synergies and reduces bureaucracy. Shipowners are spared the inspections previously required by both federal and state authorities and the associated time and expense.” (Bundestag Document 17/10959, page 5)