A resting Breakthrough
A breakthrough in working conditions for watchkeeping personnel was achieved at an International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Diplomatic Conference held in Manila, Philippines from June 21-25. The conference also adopted revisions to the International Convention and Code on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
The Conference marked the first major revision to STCW since 1995, when the original 1978-Convention was completely revised.
There was a need to harmonise STCW requirements on rest hours with the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), expected to enter into force in 2011.
Details of some of the provision are provided below.
The current rest hour provisions are part of the STCW Convention:
Section A-VIII/1 of the STCW Code (Mandatory)
1. All persons who are assigned duty as officer in charge of a watch or seafarer on watch shall be provided with a minimum of 10 hours rest in any 24 hour-period.
2. The hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which shall be at least six hours in length.
3. The requirements for rest periods laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 need not be maintained in the case of an emergency or drill or in other overriding operational conditions.
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, the minimum period of 10 hours may be reduced to not less than 6 consecutive hours provided that any such reduction shall not extend beyond two days and not less than 70 hours of rest are provided each seven-day period.
5. Administrations shall require that watch schedules be posted where they are easily accessible.
Section B-VIII/1 of the STCW Code (Guidance)
In applying Regulation VIII/1, the following should be taken into account:
1. Provisions made to prevent fatigue should ensure that excessive or unreasonable overall working hours are not undertaken. In particular, the minimum rest periods specified in Section A-VIII/1 should not be interpreted as implying that all other hours may be devoted to watchkeeping or other duties;
2. That the frequency and length of leave periods, and the granting of compensatory leave, are material factors in preventing fatigue from building up over a period of time;
3. The provision may be varied for ships on short sea voyages, provided special safety arrangements are put in place.
Following the Manila amendments to STCW the rest hours for watch keeping personnel will be as follows:
1. Officers who are assigned duty as officer in charge of a watch, or ratings, forming part of a watch, and personnel whose duties involve designated safety, prevention of pollution and security duties, shall be provided with a rest period of not less than 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period and 77 hours in any 7-day period.
2. The hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which shall be at least 6 hours in length, and the intervals between consecutive periods of rest shall not exceed 14 hours.
The above constitutes the main regulation regarding rest hours. There are however some options that differ from the main regulation.
Source:shiptalk