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The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is set to review work-rest regulations for seafarers at the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) in April 2025 in Geneva.<\/p>\n
The decision has been made after a detailed report has revealed that seafarers work much more than the global standards, often violating mandatory rest periods.<\/p>\n
A 2022 survey by the World Maritime University (WMU), conducted among 9,000 seafarers, found that maritime workers spend an average of 11.5 hours per day on duty, leading to a 74.9-hour workweek-far exceeding the global average of 43 hours per week as recorded by the ILO in 2018.<\/p>\n
Despite international regulations, 28.1% of seafarers admitted to resting less than the required 10 hours per day, which violates rest-hour rules. The study also found that only 7 hours of sleep per day was common, raising serious concerns about fatigue.<\/p>\n
78% of seafarers reported not getting a single full day off during their entire contract period- a direct contradiction to the spirit of the Maritime Labour Convention.<\/p>\n
Additionally, 88.3% of respondents confessed to exceeding work\/rest limits at least once a month, with 16.5% breaking these limits more than ten times a month.<\/p>\n
Despite these findings, port state control<\/a> reports show high compliance rates with work\/rest regulations. The WMU report calls this a \u201cfalse narrative at policy levels,\u201d as seafarers frequently underreport working hours to avoid penalties or employer retaliation.<\/p>\n According to maritime industry experts, flag states<\/a> issue manning certificates with minimal crew requirements, enabling shipowners to operate vessels with fewer workers, leading to excessive workloads.<\/p>\n A proposal under discussion suggests creating a secure online log system, managed by flag states, where seafarers can confidentially record their actual working hours without fear of repercussions.<\/p>\n The ILO and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have set clear work-rest guidelines through the MLC and the Seafarers\u2019 Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping Code (STCW):<\/p>\n Maximum working hours:<\/em> 14 hours per 24-hour period and 72 hours per week. However, compliance remains weak. Over the years, multiple accident reports have linked crew fatigue to maritime casualties.<\/p>\n Industry professionals, including the founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, Steven Jones, have expressed concerns about this issue. In a recent article for Splash, he stated that seafarers struggle with chronic underreporting and fear of punishment for violations.<\/p>\n He added that workers face a difficult choice- report overwork honestly and risk penalties or adjust records to avoid trouble, leading to a lack of accurate data on actual working hours.<\/p>\n Apart from work\/rest regulations, the April 2025 MLC summit in Geneva will also focus on:<\/p>\n Meanwhile, industry leaders from BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERTANKO, and INTERCARGO met in Athens on February 6 to discuss key maritime challenges, including greenhouse gas reduction and geopolitical risks.<\/p>\n The criminalisation of seafarers and unjust legal treatment were major concerns in their discussions.<\/p>\n 87.6% of seafarers surveyed believe there is still an imbalance between work demands and crewing levels, dismissing claims that technology is reducing workloads.<\/p>\n With the ILO reviewing regulations, maritime labour policies could see stricter enforcement, leading to better conditions for seafarers worldwide.<\/p>\n
\nMinimum rest hours:<\/em> 10 hours per 24-hour period and 77 hours per week.<\/p>\n\n