Australia’s Maritime Safety Authority has issued a marine notice outlining its expectations for vessel owners and operators when considering appropriate crewing, maintenance of watchkeeping standards and the provision of minimum hours of rest.
The the guidance is aimed both at regulated Australian vessels (along with there owners / operators / masters and crew) and also at foreign-flagged vessel owners, operators, flag states masters and crew operating in Australian waters.
Owners and operators must ensure they meet the requirements in Marine Order 28 which gives effect to the appropriate sections of the Standards for Training Certification and Watchkeeping Code.
In determining appropriate crewing the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution A.1047(27) Principles of Minimum Safe Manning must also be taken into account, the AMSA notes.
Fitness for duty
AMSA observes that three international conventions impose obligation in respect of duty-fitness.
Firstly, the STCW Convention specifies that administrations shall take account of the danger posed by fatigue, especially of seafarers whose duties involve the safe and secure operation of a ship.
Secondly, the Maritime Labour Convention requires that there be enough seafarers employed aboard to ensure that ships are operated safely, efficiently and with due regard to security under all conditions, taking into account seafarer fatigue and the nature and conditions of the voyage.
Thirdly, the International Safety Management Code stipulates that each ship must be appropriately crewed so as to encompass all aspects of maintaining safe operations on board.
AMSA provides further notes on fatigue and crewing; and also on watchkeeping.
The Authority notes that hours of rest requirements and watchkeeping standards are established in Australian legislation and it warns that it may take enforcement action for serious breaches.
Vessels may be detained if rest hour records have been altered and do not reflect actual rest hours; if hours of rest records for watchkeepers do not meet the minimum STCW requirements; if compensatory rest has been used for activities that should be planned (such as bunkering) leading to system rest hour breaches.
Further details can be obtained from AMSA.
