RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE APPLICATION OF REQUIREMENTS GOVERNING SEAFARERS HOURS OF WORK AND REST

For years, fatigue has been treated as one of the most serious factors historically contributing to the vast majority of incidents occurring in the maritime industry. In the attempt to get the fatigue minimized, the appropriate legislation addressing the regulating of the hours of work/rest of the seafarers has been there and is duly controlled and thoroughly monitored to ensure their strict compliance with Flag Authorities legislation that are being enforced by means of the established PSC procedures.

But is should also be noted as necessary that the overall enforcement measures were relatively ineffective. The present official paper has been developed with the intention of its authors to highlight the key areas of concern  related to the potential uncertainties plus various different interpretations of the requirements contained in the relevant international conventions.

Moreover, the authors of the volume have also considered the minimum industry expectations in order to provide the proper compliance with all relevant technical recommendations and provisions provided to keep all members of the OCIMF organization together with the ship managers ashore and ship crew members duly updated. The recommendations cover the legislative background, recommendations and possible ambiguities of UIs, with the separate chapter being dedicated to the further recommendations relating to the practical compliance.​