Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to review the adequacy of the enforcement of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 for seafarers working on internationally registered merchant ships in UK (a) waters and (b) ports; and if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of those regulations in preventing seafarer fatigue.

The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 implement minimum standards for hours of rest in accordance with the International Maritime Organization’s Convention on Standards for Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, 1978 as amended and the International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. As such, they provide a framework for enforcement, but they are not sufficient on their own effectively to prevent fatigue which can be affected by a number of factors, including time spent as sea, the type of work, quality of sleep and even the comfort of the ship.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency therefore seeks to promote education about prevention, recognition and mitigation of fatigue through guidance on human factors and safe working practices.