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 Geneva in April 2025, according to a Marine Insight (MI) report. This review comes after a damning report revealed widespread non-compliance with existing standards, exposing a severe fatigue crisis among maritime workers.
The ILO’s decision follows mounting evidence of seafarers routinely exceeding mandated working hours and suffering from inadequate rest. A 2022 survey of 9,000 seafarers by the World Maritime University (WMU) found that maritime workers average 11.5 hours of work per day, translating to a 74.9-hour workweek—significantly higher than the global average of 43 hours reported by the ILO in 2018.
Despite international regulations, 28.1% of seafarers admitted to resting less than the required 10 hours per day, a clear violation of established rules. The WMU study also revealed that only 7 hours of sleep per day is common, raising serious concerns about chronic fatigue. Furthermore, a staggering 78% of seafarers reported not receiving a single full day off during their entire contract period, directly contravening the spirit of the MLC. Alarmingly, 88.3% of respondents confessed to exceeding work/rest limits at least monthly, with 16.5% doing so more than ten times a month.
Paradoxically, port state control reports often show high compliance rates, a discrepancy the WMU report attributes to a “false narrative at policy levels.” Seafarers frequently underreport their working hours due to fear of penalties or employer retaliation, skewing official data.
Maritime industry experts point to flag states issuing manning certificates with minimal crew requirements as a contributing factor. This practice enables shipowners to operate vessels with fewer workers, inevitably leading to excessive workloads for those onboard.
One proposed solution under discussion is the creation of a secure, online log system managed by flag states. This system would allow seafarers to confidentially record their actual working hours without fear of reprisal, providing a more accurate picture of work patterns.
The ILO and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), through the MLC and the Seafarers’ Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping Code (STCW), have established clear work-rest guidelines: a maximum of 14 working hours per 24-hour period and 72 hours per week, and a minimum of 10 rest hours per 24-hour period and 77 hours per week. However, enforcement and compliance remain significant challenges. Numerous accident reports have linked crew fatigue to maritime casualties, underscoring the critical safety implications of this issue.
Industry professionals, including Steven Jones, founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, have voiced deep concerns. In a recent article for Splash, Jones highlighted the chronic underreporting by seafarers and their fear of punishment for violations.
He emphasized the difficult choice seafarers face: honestly reporting overwork and risking penalties, or falsifying records to avoid trouble, perpetuating the cycle of inaccurate data and hindering effective intervention. The upcoming ILO review offers a crucial opportunity to address these systemic issues and improve the working conditions and safety of seafarers worldwide.
