'Manila amendments' to the STCW Convention – as an IMO policy introduced during last decade, which has created controversy among the international maritime community.

Fatigue is still considered as a significant contributory factor to many incidents in the shipping industry despite of legislation concerning seafarers' hours of work and rest that has been in force for many years; overall enforcement measures have generally been ineffective. (OCIMF, 2012). IMO describes fatigue as a “State of feeling tired, weary, or sleepy that results from prolonged mental or physical work, exposure to harsh environment, or loss of sleep which can lead to the impairment of performance and to the reduction of alertness” (IMO, 2001).

To provide a legal framework and address the problem of fatigue on the high level number of conventions have been adopted during last 30 years by IMO and ILO. In 1984 requirements regarding seafarers’ hours of work and rest were entered into force in line with the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention.

Later in 1996, the International Labor Organization (ILO) has adopted a Convention 180, which contained provisions that addressed seafarers’ hours of work and rest. To align requirements of STCW with provisions of ILO 180, a Diplomatic Conference in Manila, the Philippines, adopted the “Manila amendments” to STCW in June 2010. Finally requirements regarding Rest and Work hours stated in ILO Convention 180 were transferred to ILO MLC 2006 (MLC) that entered into force on August 20, 2013.

In general the policy regarding work and rest hours that in light of this paper we consider as one of the fatigue prevention policies may be defined in accordance with Standard A.2.3 of MLC:

(a) Maximum hours of work shall not exceed:
(i) 14 hours in any 24-hour period; and
(ii) 72 hours in any seven-day period; or

(b) Minimum hours of rest shall not be less than:
(i) ten hours in any 24-hour period; and
(ii) 77 hours in any seven-day period.

In accordance with the Standard A.2.3 of MLC hours of work means time during which seafarers are required to do work on account of the ship;

References: 1. Hobbs, A. (2011). Fatigue Risk Management in Aviation Maintenance: Current Best Practices and Potential Future Countermeasures. Washington D.C.: Office of Aerospace Medicine. 2. ILO. (2012). Maritime Labour Convention. Geneve: INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE. 3. IMO. (2001). GUIDANCE ON FATIGUE MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT MSC/Circ.1014. London: IMO. 4. International Chamber of Shipping. (2011). Manila Ammendments to the STCW Convention. A quick guide for Seafarers. London: International Chamber of Shipping. 5. International Labor Organization. (1996). ILO Convention (No. 180) concerning Seafarers ' Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships. Geneve: International Labor Organization. 6. J. A. Stern, D. B. (1994). Blink Rate As a Measure of Fatigue a review. Washington, D.C: Office of Aviation medecin. 7. OCIMF. (2012). Recommendations Relating to the Application of Requirements Governing Seafarers ' Hours of Work and Rest. London: OCIMF.