Bahamas: Ship's cook guidelines for food safety and compliance

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) has updated a marine notice providing detailed guidelines concerning the employment and responsibilities of ship’s cooks aboard vessels.

Purpose

MN 37 aims to ensure compliance with the Bahamas Merchant Shipping Act and MLC 2006 regarding the employment of ship’s cooks. It supersedes BMA Information Bulletin No. 146 and offers comprehensive guidance on the qualifications, training, and responsibilities of ship’s cooks.

Application

MN 37 applies to all ships subject to MLC 2006 that carry ten or more persons. This includes commercial vessels and passenger ships where the presence of a ship’s cook is crucial for ensuring food safety and hygiene standards.

General Requirements

Mandatory Presence of Ship’s Cook: All covered ships must carry at least one ship’s cook who meets specified qualifications.
Training and Qualifications:
- The ship’s cook must be trained and qualified in practical cookery, food hygiene, food storage, stock control, and environmental protection.
- They should have either served at sea for a minimum period or have relevant catering experience, with documentary evidence of their competence.
Responsibilities:
- The ship’s cook is responsible for food preparation, storage, and overall hygiene onboard.
- All personnel involved in food handling must receive appropriate training to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
Special Provisions for Passenger Ships:
- On passenger ships, the ship’s cook (often referred to as the "Executive Chef") must meet enhanced qualifications to oversee food production and safety.
- Subordinate personnel involved in food handling must also receive documented training specific to their roles.
Acceptable Training Standards:
- Training received must be approved by countries party to MLC 2006 or equivalent to ILO standards.
- Alternative training methods, including those under ILO Convention No. 69 or equivalent, are also recognized.

Compliance and Documentation

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) oversees compliance with MN 37. Ship owners and managers are responsible for ensuring that all personnel involved in food handling meet the stipulated requirements.
Documentation of training and qualifications must be readily available for inspection.

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):