FatigueFatigue

By Captain Bjørn Haave By Captain Bjørn Haave NorwayNorway

Seafarers Conference Manila June 26th 2010Seafarers Conference Manila June 26th 2010

BackgroundBackground

The revision of the STCW-Convention The revision of the STCW-Convention The proposal from the EU-members The proposal from the EU-members

and othersand others Groundings and collisions Groundings and collisions

STCW-ConferenceSTCW-Conference

Decided: It is still legal for seafarers to Decided: It is still legal for seafarers to work 379 hrs. a month or 91 hrs week.work 379 hrs. a month or 91 hrs week.

The Conference succeeded in increase the The Conference succeeded in increase the hrs of rest to 77 hrs weeklyhrs of rest to 77 hrs weekly

It is an improvment but there is still a long It is an improvment but there is still a long way to go before we will have rest periods way to go before we will have rest periods like other transport workerslike other transport workers

Fatigue results in:Fatigue results in:

Accidents like groundings (15-20%)Accidents like groundings (15-20%) Collisions (10-15%)Collisions (10-15%) Groundings and collisions causes Groundings and collisions causes

death and destruction to life and death and destruction to life and environmentenvironment

Less known effectLess known effect

UK and Italy research concluded:UK and Italy research concluded: 12% more likely to die early12% more likely to die early Heart diseaseHeart disease High blood pressureHigh blood pressure ObesityObesity DiabetesDiabetes

Research by academics in the UK and Italy, Research by academics in the UK and Italy, analysed data from 16 separate studies across analysed data from 16 separate studies across Europe, USA and the Far east over a 25 years Europe, USA and the Far east over a 25 years period , covering more than 1,3 mill people and period , covering more than 1,3 mill people and more than 100.000 deathsmore than 100.000 deaths

EU proposalEU proposal

98 hrs Working Week98 hrs Working Week 10 hrs rest pr day10 hrs rest pr day On period of minimum 6 hrs the On period of minimum 6 hrs the

remaining 4 hrs could be devided into remaining 4 hrs could be devided into any periods such as 60 min on 60 min any periods such as 60 min on 60 min offoff

Period of rest???Period of rest??? Downgrading of the ConventionDowngrading of the Convention

Fatigue - SafetyFatigue - Safety IFSMA asked for a definition of a IFSMA asked for a definition of a

minimum period of restminimum period of rest IMO turned it downIMO turned it down IFSMA asked for a maximum length of a IFSMA asked for a maximum length of a

navigational watchnavigational watch IMO turned it downIMO turned it down Do the members of IMO think Safety or Do the members of IMO think Safety or

are they only occupied with Capital are they only occupied with Capital Gain?Gain?

Certain IMO-members always turn down Certain IMO-members always turn down HE-issues when it counter MONEYHE-issues when it counter MONEY

ConclutionConclution

Why are seafarers less protected than Why are seafarers less protected than other transport workers?other transport workers?

Flexibility over SafetyFlexibility over Safety Ordinary hrs of work in a week can be Ordinary hrs of work in a week can be

more than twice that of any shore workermore than twice that of any shore worker Contracts can be any lengthContracts can be any length In my eyes this means that we will have In my eyes this means that we will have

many catastrophic accidents to come as many catastrophic accidents to come as long as the IMO members does not alter long as the IMO members does not alter their attitude.their attitude.

My thoughtsMy thoughts After many years as a delegate to IMO I After many years as a delegate to IMO I

am sorry to say that the Seafarers am sorry to say that the Seafarers issues are not the priority - even if it issues are not the priority - even if it counts for as much as 80% of all counts for as much as 80% of all accidents at sea. That is contradictive accidents at sea. That is contradictive to the main issues discussed at IMO to the main issues discussed at IMO and must be given priority in the future and must be given priority in the future if we want the number of accidents to if we want the number of accidents to be reduced in order to save the be reduced in order to save the environment and the life of seafarers.environment and the life of seafarers.

ThanksThanks

for listening to my thoughts for listening to my thoughts