Tokyo MoU Detains 16 Ships For Deficiency Related To Rest Hours

Preliminary results from the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on STCW Hours of Rest, carried out between 1 September 2014 and 30 November 2014 in the Tokyo MoU region show that 16 ships (7.77% of detentions during CIC) were detained over the 3 month period as a direct result of the CIC for deficiencies related to hours of rest. Main areas of concern are hours of rest not being recorded properly and watch-keeping personnel without sufficient rest.

Preliminary results from the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on STCW Hours of Rest, carried out between 1 September 2014 and 30 November 2014 in the Tokyo MoU region show that 16 ships (7.77% of detentions during CIC) were detained over the 3 month period as a direct result of the CIC for deficiencies related to hours of rest. Main areas of concern are hours of rest not being recorded properly and watch-keeping personnel without sufficient rest.
In recent years there has been a growing concern regarding hours of rest for watch-keeping personnel. Supported by PSC inspection results and a number of incidents, the Tokyo MoU and Paris MoU, as well as other MoUs, decided to organize a joint campaign to verify a list of 10 selected items against the STCW requirements.
The CIC questionnaire was completed during 6,392 inspections. A total of 1,589 CIC-related deficiencies were recorded and 16 ships (7.77% of the detentions) were detained as a direct result of the CIC during the 3 month period.
Investigations into a number of recent incidents throughout the Asia–Pacific region have identified fatigue and insufficient rest of watch-keeping personal as key contributing factors in these incidents. There has been a significant loss of human life and damage to the marine environmental resulting from many of these incidents.
During the campaign most inspections occurred on bulk carriers with 2,206 (35%) inspections, followed by general cargo/multi-purpose ships with 1,361 (21%) inspections, container ships with 1154 (18%) inspections and chemical tankers with 436 (7%) inspections.
5 (31%) of the detained ships were general cargo/multi-purpose ships, 3 (19%) were container ships, 2 bulk carriers and 2 vehicle carriers and 4 on other ship types. Analysis of the recorded deficiencies shows that most deficiencies relate to hours of rest not being recorded correctly in 997 cases (63%), vessel manning not in accordance with the minimum safe manning document 241(15%) and shipboard working arrangements 232 (15%).
The flag with the highest number of CIC-topic related detentions was Panama with 5 CIC-topic related detentions.
The CIC was a joint campaign with the Paris MoU. Others co-operating MoUs have followed the same routine during the campaign.
The detailed results of the campaign will be further analysed and findings will be presented to the coming PSC Committee meeting in October 2015, after which the report will be submitted to the International Maritime Organization.