[BITList] Fwd: Lloyd's List: Send to Colleague

[Michael Feltham]

This is a letter from Lloyds List re Fatigue, pointing out that the EU  
wishes another study done into Fatigue !  How many more ships will run  
ashore before the EU will propose Second Mates to be carried on all  
ships.

Mike
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Begin forwarded message:

From: enquiries at lloydslist.com
Date: 2 March 2009 08:27:46 GMT
To: mj.feltham at madasafish.com
Subject: Lloyd's List: Send to Colleague


The below article was sent to you from Mike Feltham (mj.feltham at madasafish.com 
) with the following message: I thought you might be interested in the  
article below.

Red tape only confuses fatigue issues
Monday 2 March 2009

 From Capt CR Kelso,

SIR, Michael Grey’s article ‘Fighting fatigue’ (Lloyd’s List, February  
23) highlighted a major maritime hazard.

Hopefully, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency will act swiftly on the  
recommendations of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, following  
its enquiry into the grounding of Antari. Hopefully, it will  
“instigate robust, unilateral measures to address the fatigue of  
bridge watchkeeping officers on vessels in UK waters and to ensure  
that a dedicated lookout is always posted at night, during restricted  
visibility and as otherwise required in hazardous navigational  
situations”.

Few have problems identifying the basic cause of fatigue.

However, the European Union is prepared to fund another study to  
evaluate the impact of different working patterns on the performance  
of watchkeepers. Starting in mid-year, Project Horizon will be  
completed in early 2011 and involve “a more scientific approach,  
utilising simulators to recreate realistic working conditions and  
hazardous situations to assess the impact of fatigue on professional  
judgement and performance”.

We can but hope that the MCA will not engage in this pointless  
procrastination.

Pity the Croatian master endeavouring to explain the intricacies of  
the Merchant Shipping (Hours of Work) Regulations to his mixed  
Myanmari/Sinalhese crew.

Having ascertained that his employers have not entered into a  
collective or workforce agreement with the MCA moderating the  
restrictions, he must explain that, despite the title, the regulations  
refer to hours of rest.

He must then clarify the 10 hours in any 24-hour period and 77 hours  
in any seven-day period and reassure them that the former does not  
necessarily entail a 98-hour working week or the latter a more restful  
91.

Heaven forbid that anyone confuse the issue by mentioning  
International Labour Organisation Convention 180, which declares that  
hours of work must not exceed 14 in any 24-hour period or 72 in any  
seven-day period.

We read that the seafarer who should have been on lookout on Antari  
was, in accordance with normal practice on that ship, “sitting in the  
messroom”. For record purposes, was he regarded as being at work or at  
rest?

The basic cause of fatigue (and failure to maintain the statutory  
lookout) is crystal clear: inadequate crewing. The ILO states: “The  
shipowner must ensure that the master is given the necessary resources  
and adequate manpower” and until that is done the hazard of the  
sleeping watchkeeper will persist and Michael Grey’s terrifying  
scenario will, one day soon, be enacted.

Capt CR Kelso (Rtd)5 Bursledon HeightsSouthampton SO31 8DB

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