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STCW Code Section A-VIII/1 and the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC, Standard A2.3) together define how long a seafarer can work, how much rest must be given, and how the bridge and engine watches are organised. Both conventions apply to all seafarers — flag states must implement whichever provides the more favourable protection.
The traditional foreign-going merchant ship organises three watchkeeping officers and three rating lookouts in a 4-hour-on, 8-hour-off rotation, repeated through every 24 hours:
| Watch | Time (LT) | Officer | Old name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle | 00:00–04:00 | Second Officer | Graveyard |
| Morning | 04:00–08:00 | Chief Officer | Mate's watch |
| Forenoon | 08:00–12:00 | Third Officer | Forenoon |
| Afternoon | 12:00–16:00 | Second Officer | Afternoon |
| Evening | 16:00–20:00 | Chief Officer | First dog (16-18) / Last dog (18-20) |
| First | 20:00–24:00 | Third Officer | First watch |
On naval vessels the 16:00–20:00 watch is split into two 2-hour "dog watches" so the rotation is uneven over a 7-day cycle and each crew has a different watch each day. On most merchant ships the dog watches have been merged.
Coastal and short-sea ships often operate with only two watchkeepers — typically the Master and the Chief Officer — on a 6-on / 6-off cycle. This system is permitted under STCW so long as the rest-hour minima are met, but is recognised as a fatigue risk and many flag states require additional safeguards.
MLC 2006 Standard A2.3 permits flag states to set either a maximum hours of work or a minimum hours of rest:
Most flag states adopt the rest-hour version, which aligns with STCW. Records of daily hours must be kept on a standard format, signed by the seafarer and the master, and made available for inspection by port state and flag state authorities.
The 10/77 minima may be exceeded by collective agreement, but only down to no fewer than 70 hours of rest per week, and not for more than two consecutive weeks. Two further exceptions apply at all times: drills (musters, fire and abandon-ship drills) and overriding operational conditions (a casualty or imminent danger to vessel, persons, or environment, or rendering assistance to others in distress).
On a UMS-classed ship the engine room is normally unmanned during navigation. The duty engineer is on call from accommodation, with the bridge monitoring engine alarms and a 30-second "dead-man" alarm from the engine control room when an engineer is on rounds. Class notations require a dual independent alarm to a public address, the duty engineer's cabin, and a second engineer's cabin if the first is unanswered within a set interval (typically 3 minutes).
Each seafarer's daily record of work or rest hours is signed by the seafarer and the Master (or a delegate). Records are kept onboard for at least 12 months and are inspected by class during ISM audits and by port state during inspections. A copy is provided to the seafarer on request.