NEW PROVISIONS ON HOURS OF REST FOR WATCH-KEEPERS AS PER MANILA CONVENTION 2010

Conference of Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, Manila, the Philippines, 21-25 June 2010

A Diplomatic Conference to adopt amendments to the STCW Convention, (successfully completed in Manila on 25 June 2010 - see briefing 32/2010) has also agreed, by consensus, a series of new provisions on the issue of "fitness for duty - hours of rest", to provide watchkeeping officers aboard ships with sufficient rest periods. Under the Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention, all persons who are assigned duty as officer in charge of a watch or as a rating forming part of a watch and those whose duties involve designated safety, prevention of pollution and security duties shall be provided with a rest period of not less than:

1. a minimum of 10 hours of rest in any 24-hour period; and

2. 77 hours in any 7-day period.

The hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which shall be at least 6 hours in length, and the intervals between consecutive periods of rest shall not exceed 14 hours.

At the same time, in order to ensure a continued safe operation of ships in exceptional conditions, the Conference unanimously agreed to allow certain exceptions from the above requirements for the rest periods.

Under the exception clause, parties may allow exceptions from the required hours of rest provided that the rest period is not less than 70 hours in any 7 day period and on certain conditions, namely:

1. such exceptional arrangements shall not be extended for more than two consecutive weeks;

2. the intervals between two periods of exceptions shall not be less than twice the duration of the exception;

3. the hours of rest may be divided into no more than three periods, one of which shall be at least 6 hours and none of the other two periods shall be less than one hour in length;

4. the intervals between consecutive periods of rest shall not exceed 14 hours; and

5. exceptions shall not extend beyond two 24-hour periods in any 7-day period.

Exceptions shall, as far as possible, take into account the guidance regarding prevention of fatigue in section B-VIII/1.

These provisions were the result of intensive negotiations between regulators and the shipping industry and represent a well balanced solution of the issue in the well known IMO spirit of compromise.

In a statement, Secretary-General Mitropoulos said:

"I am very pleased that the Conference agreed, by consensus, an important new text on fitness for duty, which will create better conditions for seafarers to be adequately rested before they undertake their onboard duties. Fatigue has been found to be a contributory factor to accidents at sea and to ensure seafarers' rest will play an important role in preventing casualties.

I am particularly pleased that the new STCW requirements on this delicate issue are consistent with the corresponding provisions of ILO's Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, which I hope will come into force soon."

Source: www.imo.org

Mr. KOJI SEKIMIZU ELECTED AS IMO SECRETARY GENERAL

Mr. Koji Seikimizu

Mr. Koji Sekimizu of Japan has been elected as the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with effect from 1 January 2012, for an initial term of four years.

The vote took place during the 106th session of the 40-Member strong IMO Council, which is meeting from 27 June to 1 July 2011. The decision of the Council will be submitted to the IMO Assembly, which meets for its 27th session from 21 to 30 November 2011, for approval.

Mr. Sekimizu, 58, is currently Director of IMO’s Maritime Safety Division. Mr. Sekimizu studied marine engineering and naval architecture and joined the Ministry of Transport of Japan in 1977, working initially as a ship inspector and moving on to senior positions in both maritime safety and environment related positions within the Ministry. He began attending IMO meetings as part of the Japanese delegation in 1980 and joined the IMO Secretariat in 1989, initially as Technical Officer, Sub-Division for Technology, Maritime Safety Division, becoming Head, Technology Section in 1992, then moving to become Senior Deputy Director, Marine Environment Division in 1997 and Director of that Division in 2000, before moving to his current position in 2004.

Mr.Efthimos E.Mitropoulos

Congratulating the winner, IMO Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said he looked forward to “working closely with Mr. Sekimizu between now and the end of the year to introduce him to the current state of organizational affairs so that the transition of administration from me to him will be as smooth, harmonious and successful as possible.“

“For him to succeed in the hugely demanding and heavy task the Council entrusted him with today, he will need all the understanding, support and co operation of the entire membership and the Secretariat to enable him to provide direction and steer the Organization prudently and wisely in the challenging times that lie ahead. While I have no doubt that the membership will provide all that I just suggested (as they did to me, over the last seven and a half years, for which I am ever so grateful), I can assure him that the Secretariat will stand by him to support him in any way possible and under all circumstances,” Mr. Mitropoulos said.

Source: www.imo.org, M&S