UN To Review Seafarer Work Hours As Study Reveals Alarming 74% Overwork

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 April 2025 in Geneva.

The decision has been made after a detailed report has revealed that seafarers work much more than the global standards, often violating mandatory rest periods.

A 2022 survey by the World Maritime University (WMU), conducted among 9,000 seafarers, found that maritime workers spend an average of 11.5 hours per day on duty, leading to a 74.9-hour workweek-far exceeding the global average of 43 hours per week as recorded by the ILO in 2018.

Despite international regulations, 28.1% of seafarers admitted to resting less than the required 10 hours per day, which violates rest-hour rules. The study also found that only 7 hours of sleep per day was common, raising serious concerns about fatigue.

78% of seafarers reported not getting a single full day off during their entire contract period- a direct contradiction to the spirit of the Maritime Labour Convention.

Additionally, 88.3% of respondents confessed to exceeding work/rest limits at least once a month, with 16.5% breaking these limits more than ten times a month.

Despite these findings, port state control reports show high compliance rates with work/rest regulations. The WMU report calls this a “false narrative at policy levels,” as seafarers frequently underreport working hours to avoid penalties or employer retaliation.

According to maritime industry experts, flag states issue manning certificates with minimal crew requirements, enabling shipowners to operate vessels with fewer workers, leading to excessive workloads.

A proposal under discussion suggests creating a secure online log system, managed by flag states, where seafarers can confidentially record their actual working hours without fear of repercussions.

The ILO and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) have set clear work-rest guidelines through the MLC and the Seafarers’ Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping Code (STCW):

Maximum working hours: 14 hours per 24-hour period and 72 hours per week.
Minimum rest hours: 10 hours per 24-hour period and 77 hours per week.

However, compliance remains weak. Over the years, multiple accident reports have linked crew fatigue to maritime casualties.

Industry professionals, including the founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, Steven Jones, have expressed concerns about this issue. In a recent article for Splash, he stated that seafarers struggle with chronic underreporting and fear of punishment for violations.

He added that workers face a difficult choice- report overwork honestly and risk penalties or adjust records to avoid trouble, leading to a lack of accurate data on actual working hours.

Apart from work/rest regulations, the April 2025 MLC summit in Geneva will also focus on:

• Violence and harassment at sea
• Seafarer repatriation policies
• Shore leave rights

Meanwhile, industry leaders from BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERTANKO, and INTERCARGO met in Athens on February 6 to discuss key maritime challenges, including greenhouse gas reduction and geopolitical risks.

The criminalisation of seafarers and unjust legal treatment were major concerns in their discussions.

87.6% of seafarers surveyed believe there is still an imbalance between work demands and crewing levels, dismissing claims that technology is reducing workloads.

With the ILO reviewing regulations, maritime labour policies could see stricter enforcement, leading to better conditions for seafarers worldwide.

Reference: Splash247

Source: Maritime Shipping News