Allianz Worldwide Care, a global health insurer, has rolled out its latest Maritime Labour Convention compliant healthcare insurance plan for onshore healthcare to shipping companies affected by the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006), or the "Seafarers' Bill of Rights".

Effective from August 2013, MLC 2006 requires shipping firms to offer comprehensive rights and protection to the world’s 1.2 million seafarers, including the provision of a minimum level of healthcare cover.

Allianz Worldwide Care marketing and client management head Susan Landers said that the convention addresses a number of basic employment rights, amongst them fair employment terms and the right to health protection and medical care.

"Allianz Worldwide Care took a pro-active approach to create a healthcare plan which addresses all of the MLC 2006 mandatory in-patient and out-patient medical requirements, as well offering as a number of optional in-patient, out-patient, dental and repatriation benefits."

"This allows employers to provide a higher level of healthcare cover and a more attractive employee benefit in this competitive industry where there is a scarcity of qualified and experienced maritime staff," Landers added.

Allianz Worldwide Care delivers international health insurance for employees, individuals and their dependants, across the globe.