Hours of rest

Fatigue at sea kills. Two interlocking instruments set minimum rest periods that no shipowner, master, or collective bargaining agreement can undercut: STCW 1978 as amended (Regulation VIII/1 and Code Section A-VIII/1) and MLC 2006 Standard A2.3. Together they define the floor below which no seafarer on a watch-keeping schedule may be pushed — and they give port-state-control officers the authority to detain a vessel when that floor is breached.

The minimums at a glance

• ·10 hours rest in any 24-hour period. If split into two periods, one period must be at least 6 hours continuous. The gap between two consecutive rest periods must not exceed 14 hours.
• ·77 hours rest in any 7-day period. This translates to a maximum of 91 hours work in any 7-day period — calculated on a rolling basis, not a fixed Monday–Sunday week.
• ·Flag-state CBA exception. MLC Std A2.3(13) allows flag states to authorise collective bargaining agreements that vary these limits provided: rest does not fall below 70 hours in any 7-day period, and adequate compensatory rest is provided without delay.

Work-and-rest record keeping

MLC Std A2.3(12) requires masters to maintain records of daily hours of rest or work for every seafarer. The format must be approved by the flag state and comply with the standardised table in STCW Code A-VIII/1. Key obligations:

• Records must be kept for every watch-keeper, engineer on duty, and officer of the watch.
• Each monthly record must be signed by the seafarer and countersigned by the master or delegate.
• A copy of the signed record must be given to the seafarer. Retain your copy.
• Records must be available for inspection by port-state-control officers on demand.
• Falsification of records is a serious criminal offence in most flag states and is a PSC detention trigger.

Permitted exceptions

STCW Reg VIII/1 para 3 and MLC Std A2.3(14) allow the master to suspend rest requirements and require a seafarer to perform necessary duties during a period of emergency affecting the safety of the ship, persons on board, or the cargo, or to give assistance to other ships or persons in distress. Permitted interruptions include:

• Abandon-ship and fire drills (SOLAS mandated — cannot be scheduled during rest without recording).
• Actual emergencies — man-overboard, flooding, fire at sea, SAR assistance.
• Safety operations in port — mooring in severe weather, emergency unmooring.

After the emergency, the master must ensure adequate rest is provided as soon as practicable and must record the interruption on the work-rest record. Chronic use of the emergency exception to maintain normal operations is a regulatory breach.

Port-state-control consequences

PSC officers under the Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU, and USCG routinely inspect work-rest records on arrival. A pattern of breaches — industry guidance cites more than 5% of sampled seafarers showing a deficit — is treated as a serious deficiency. Consequences escalate from a deficiency notice, to a rectification requirement before departure, to detention of the vessel until the issue is resolved. The ship's flag state and the MLC financial-security insurer will also be notified.

What to do if your rest is being violated

1. Keep a personal log of your actual rest hours alongside the official record. Note any discrepancy.
2. Raise it with your master in writing using the onboard complaint procedure (MLC Std A5.1.5).
3. If unresolved, contact the ITF inspector at the next port or ISWAN SeafarerHelp (24/7, free, multilingual).
4. In any MoU port, ask the PSC officer to review work-rest records during their inspection.
5. File with the flag state using the DMLC Part I contact if the vessel leaves without resolution.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the minimum rest required in any 24-hour period?

  At least 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period. If split into two periods, one must be at least 6 hours continuous. The interval between consecutive rest periods must not exceed 14 hours.

• Can my rest be reduced during drills?

  Yes. STCW Reg VIII/1 and MLC Std A2.3(14) allow masters to suspend rest schedules for safety operations, emergencies, and mandatory drills. However, masters must ensure adequate rest is provided once the emergency or drill has passed and record the disruption.

• Who signs my work and rest record?

  Work-and-rest records must be maintained in the ship's approved format, verified by the seafarer and countersigned by the master or a delegated officer each month. A copy must be given to the seafarer. Unsigned or missing records are PSC deficiencies.

• How many crew breaches before a vessel is detained?

  Port-state control uses a threshold of more than 5% of records showing a breach as a trigger for serious concern and potential detention. Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU PSC officers inspect records on arrival; a pattern of falsification is treated as a serious deficiency.

Primary sources

• IMO — STCW Convention and Code (including Regulation VIII/1)
• ILO NORMLEX — MLC 2006 Standard A2.3 (Hours of work and rest)
• Paris MoU — PSC officer guidance on work-rest records
• ITF — Hours of work and rest explained

See also

• MLC 2006 — your bill of rights
• Seafarer Employment Agreement (SEA)
• On-board complaint procedure
• Port-state-control complaints
• Flag-state complaints
• Union and welfare escalation
• Bullying, harassment, sexual harassment
• Helplines — ITF, ISWAN, welfare contacts
• Watchkeeping — STCW requirements
• Port-state-control inspection guide

Disclaimer. General information only — not legal advice. Rules vary by flag state, port state, vessel type, applicable CBA, and contract. For specific cases, contact the ITF, ISWAN, your union, or a maritime lawyer.