Study Reveals Inadequate Rest Hours Compliance

Preliminary results from the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on STCW Hours of Rest, carried out between September 1 and November 30, 2014 in the Paris MoU region show that 16 ships (14% of detentions during CIC) were detained over the three-month period as a direct result of the CIC for deficiencies related to hours of rest. Main areas of concern are hours of rest not being recorded properly and watchkeeping personnel without sufficient rest.

 

In recent years there has been a growing concern regarding hours of rest for watchkeeping personnel, Paris MoU said. Supported by PSC inspection results and a number of incidents, the Paris and Tokyo MoU, as well as other MoUs, decided to organize a joint campaign to verify a list of 10 selected items against the STCW requirements.

 

The CIC questionnaire was completed during 4,041 inspections. A total of 912 CIC-related deficiencies were recorded and 16 ships (14% of the detentions) were detained as a direct result of the CIC during the three-month period.

 

Secretary General Richard Schiferli expressed serious concerns: “Insufficient rest of watchkeeping personnel has already caused several incidents over the past years. It may be the cause of fatigue, which can have major consequences for safety and the environment. Two watch systems are particularly vulnerable in this respect.”

 

During the campaign most inspections concerned general cargo/multipurpose ships with 1,207 (30%) inspections, followed by bulk carriers with 948 (23%) inspections, container ships with 407 (11%) inspections, chemical tankers with 375 (9%) inspections and oil tankers with 325 (8%) inspections.

 

According to Paris MoU, 11 (70%) of the detained ships were general cargo/multipurpose ships, three (19%) were bulk carriers, one containership and one other ship type.

 

Analysis of the recorded deficiencies shows that most deficiencies relate to hours of rest not being recorded correctly in 449 cases (11%), watchkeeping personnel did not have sufficient rest in 203 cases (5%) and bridge lookout not maintained in 101 cases (3%). A total of 21 inspections revealed that the manning level was not in accordance with the Minimum Safe Manning Document.

 

The flag with the highest number of CIC-topic related detentions was Moldova with three CIC-topic related detentions.

 

The inspections showed that a total of 1,268 ships were operating with a two watch system for the navigational watch and 13 of these ships were detained..

 

The CIC was a joint campaign with the Tokyo MoU. Others cooperating MoUs have followed the same routine during the campaign.

 

Paris MoU said the detailed results of the campaign will be further analyzed and findings will be presented to the 48th meeting of the Port State Control Committee in May 2015, after which the report will be submitted to the International Maritime Organization.