Module 6 - Fatigue, the Administration and port State Authorities

  1. Module 6 contains practical information intended for Administrations (which means the Government of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly) and port State authorities (which means the Government of the State in which the port of call is located). This module provides guidance for considering fatigue in port and flag State requirements, including the impact of their actions on seafarer fatigue and approaches and considerations for mitigating fatigue on board ships. It is also recommended that Administrations and port State authorities become familiar with modules 1 to 5.

    Fatigue and the Administration

  2. Administrations have an important role to play in mitigating and managing the risks of fatigue at sea.

    .1 Implementation and enforcement of international regulations that have a direct impact on mitigating and managing fatigue. These include:

         .1 as required under the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended, taking into account the danger posed by fatigue on seafarers, especially those whose duties involve the safe and secure operation of a ship;

         .2 taking into account the Principles of minimum safe manning (resolution A.1047(27)) when making a determination on safe manning levels for ships flying the Administration's flag;

         .3 ensuring that the Administration's ships are appropriately manned in order to encompass all aspects of maintaining safe operations on board and its ships are in compliance with section 6.2 of the ISM Code;

         .4 ensuring that all identified risks (including the risk of fatigue) to the Administration's ships, personnel and the environment are assessed and appropriate safeguards established as required under the ISM Code;

         .5 ensuring that applicable regulations and requirements affecting fatigue mitigation and management, such as habitability, design, and environmental controls, are complied with; and

         .6 ensuring that SOLAS requirements that affect fatigue mitigation and management, such as noise and vibration, are enforced in the design and construction approval.

    .2 Consider the impacts on seafarer fatigue as a result of the requirements placed on shipboard operations and seafarers. This includes the impact of:

         .1 existing requirements placed on shipboard operations and seafarers; and

         .2 proposed new requirements on shipboard operations and seafarers.

         .3 Promote these guidelines to all stakeholders, including seafarers, companies, naval architects/ship designers, training providers, Administration officials and any other affected stakeholders.

         .4 Promote awareness, education and training on the causes and consequences of fatigue and its management to address the risk (seafarers and companies, lessons learned, etc.).

         .5 Incorporate assessment of fatigue in accident/incident investigations. Based on the information received as a result of investigating maritime casualties, Administrations should iteratively evaluate the effectiveness of their fatigue prevention programme(s), if any, and modify as appropriate based on lessons learned.

         .6 Encourage companies with ships registered under their flag to incorporate fatigue mitigation and management practices.

         .7 Encourage recognized organizations (ROs) with delegated responsibilities to take into account international guidelines and regulations addressing the mitigation and management of fatigue, as appropriate.

    Fatigue and port State authorities

  3. Port State authorities may also have a role in mitigating seafarers' fatigue. Port State authorities are encouraged to consider the potential effects that inspections and reporting requirements may have on the wider aspect of seafarer fatigue.

  4. Port State authorities should consider the impact of inspections, surveys, audits and other visits to ships on seafarer fatigue. This includes considering:

    .1 shipboard operations, including work schedules, in the scheduling of inspections, surveys, audits and other visits to ships;

    .2 approaches to carrying out inspections, surveys, audits and other visits to ships that minimize the impact on shipboard operations and seafarers; and

    .3 the consolidation or coordination of inspections, surveys, audits and other visits to ships, including between different parties, to minimize the impact on shipboard operations and seafarers.

  5. Port State authorities should consider the impact of reporting and information requests on seafarer fatigue. This includes considering:

    .1 shipboard operations and seafarers when establishing reporting requirements and requesting information from ships and seafarers;

    .2 approaches to obtaining reports and information from ships that minimize the impact on shipboard operations and seafarers;

    .3 the consolidation or coordination of reporting and information requests, including between different parties, to minimize the impact on shipboard operations and seafarers; and

    .4 the harmonization and development of mechanisms to reduce the burdens of reporting and information requests on ships and seafarers.