The 

ship's articles (shipping articles, more formally

the ship's articles of agreement) is the set of
documents that constitute the contract between the
seafarer and the master(on behalf of the vowner) of a
vessel. 
It is collective agreement.
They specify the

 name of the ship,

 the conditions of employment (including the size and
ratings of the intended complement),
 seafarer's compensation (shares or payments),
 the nature of the voyage(s) and duration, and
 the regulations to be observed aboard ship and in
port, including punishable offenses and punishments.
 the day of signing on and the place and the date of
signing off of the ship.
 next of kin
The whole AOA document is called ENG 1
List of crew is called ENG 2
List of crew loose form, to be used upon crew changes not
at the presence of Shipping Master, which is to be sent to
him is called ENG 2A.
But the forms may have different names with different
flags.
What are different types of AOA?
 Voyage
 Running (Cover more than one voyage, not longer
than 6 months)
 Multiple agreement
 NCV (Home trade)
 Unlimited (Foreign Going)

Why AOA is required?

Because it is required by National Law in compliance to
ILO convention 22 as MSA.

Why some Flag States cancelled requirements of AOA?

Before individual agreement between seafarer and
Company may have differences with National Law
regarding crew, therefore in order to be in aligned with
national law (MSA) the seafarer are required to sign AOA
as ruled by the MSA.
Now ILO 22 is replaced by MLC 2006.
All MSA, SEA are governed by MLC and therefore some
flags cancelled AOA, considered AOA is no more necessary
though List of Crew is still maintained.
If AOA is not eliminated in MSA the ship is required to
have AOA according to MSA and SEA according to MLC.
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations
between employers and a group of employees aimed at
reaching agreements to regulate working conditions.
The interests of the employees are commonly presented by
representatives of a trade union to which the employees
belong.

The International Bargaining Forum (IBF) is the forum

that brings together the ITF and the international
maritime employers that make up the Joint Negotiating
Group (JNG).

If CBA is used a copy of CBA is to be on board.

If Seafarer signs SEA with SRPS there must be a

copy of contract between SRPS and Ship Owner.

What is List of Crew?

Record of crew engaged and disengaged during the Article
life. It has reference numbers. 20 crew complement ship
with Master’s reference number 1 will have new master
reference number 21. It also includes in OLB.

What is crew List?

It’s the current crew list on board required for Port
formalities or other purposes.

What is Official Log Book?

 It is required by MSA with exceptions.
 Official MCA Logbooks are provided free of charge.
 particulars to be entered in official log books or
annexes to them; the persons who should make, sign
and witness such entries; the manner; the time of
making them and the provision for their amendment
or cancellation; and the manner, times and
circumstances for the production and delivery of
official log books to the appropriate superintendent or
proper officer are specified in MSA.
 It is an offence under the Regulations to fail to keep
the
Official Log Book or to make false entries.

(1) be completed in English;

(2) be made in accordance with instructions;
(3) be signed and counter-signed by the signatories.
Where a counter-signature is required the counter-
signing seafarer cannot be the same person as the
signatory;
(4) be made as soon as is practicable after the
occurrence to which the entry relates, unless specified
otherwise in Chapter 2 and 3 of this notice; and
(5) be true and not deliberately false or misleading.

An entry in the Official Log Book may only be

amended or cancelled by crossing through the entry in
a manner which does not make the entry illegible and
signed by the master or person making the
amendment or cancelling the entry.

If an entry cannot be contained in the Official Log

Book by reason of its length or for any other reason, it
may be contained in a separate document annexed to
the official log book and the master must make an
entry in the narrative section stating where the
information is recorded.

Front cover (page 1)

o official number, gross tonnage, and net tonnage.

The details should be taken from the ship’s
certificate of registry, noting that the official
number not the IMO number.
o The second section is for the names of successive
Masters of the ship.
o details and address of the registered owner, or
the managing owner, manager etc.
o the date and place at which the log book is
opened.
All the entries in the boxes on page 1 must be made by
the Master.
Record of seamen employed in the ship (List
of crew)
Births and deaths
Record of musters, boat drills etc
Record of test drills and inspections of
steering gear
Record of drills of enclosed space entry
Record of inspections of food and water
Load line, depth of loading etc.
Dates of departure from and arrival at each
dock
Narrative section