200445 Fatigue

Fatigue
MARS Report 200445

My vessel was recently dry-docked in South East Asia. On the day the vessel was scheduled to leave the dock, all the ship's Officers and Crew were busy for the whole day attending various jobs. The vessel sailed at about 1900 and anchored at Singapore at about 2300 hrs for bunkering. The vessel completed bunkering and sailed again the next day at 1000. Some of the Officers and Crew including Master, Chief Engineer and Chief Officer were up and about for more than 36 hours. Now tell me where is the rest hours criteria and who monitors it, how about the management intervening and ensuring that the ship's crew is well rested before sailing, bearing in mind that the vessel will be bunkering the next day. Bunkering is a ''critical operation'' and any mistake can result in pollution and a heavy fine, also possible jailing of Master and Chief Engineer. In a work environment such as ours I feel that more training and awareness is required for the shore staff including the Technical Superintendents who attend the vessel in dry dock and have no regard for crew rest hours. However, I intend to raise this point during the Master's review on ISM and it leaves me wondering whether the Industry will ever change in spite of so many new regulations.