Hours of Rest
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 sets standards for seafarers’ hours of work and rest under Standard A2.3. The summary below is provided for quick reference; always consult applicable Flag State requirements and the full text of the Convention.
Key requirements
Maximum working hours
- 14 hours in any 24-hour period
- 72 hours in any 7-day period
Minimum rest hours
- 10 hours in any 24-hour period
- 77 hours in any 7-day period
Distribution of rest
- Rest may be divided into no more than two periods
- One period must be at least 6 hours uninterrupted
- The interval between consecutive rest periods must not exceed 14 hours
Key definitions
- Hours of rest include short breaks when the seafarer is free from all duties
- Rest periods may be interrupted only for safety, security, or environmental emergencies
- Musters, fire-fighting, and lifeboat drills should be planned to minimise disruption and should not unduly interfere with rest periods
Record-keeping
- Post the table of shipboard working arrangements
- Maintain records of daily hours of work or rest for each seafarer in Deepblue©
- Master and seafarer must sign these records
- Seafarers may download their working‑hours records from Deepblue©
Exceptions
Limited exceptions may be applied for:
- Overall safety of the ship and persons on board
- Assisting other ships or persons in distress
- Emergencies
Compensatory rest
If a seafarer works more than the maximum hours of work and records this in Deepblue©, the master must give compensatory rest as soon as practicable. Deepblue© will automatically calculate compensatory rest for any seafarer who exceeds the maximum working hours, ensuring compliance with MLC requirements and supporting seafarer welfare.
Also, when guest service requirements mean a seafarer follows a 7/7 working schedule, Deepblue© will automatically add a compensatory rest day to be taken as soon as practicable.
Watchkeeping integration
These requirements operate alongside the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) watchkeeping standards. For vessels under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, integrate these requirements into Safety Management System procedures.
Maintaining compliant working and rest hours supports seafarer welfare and operational safety and is fundamental to ISM responsibilities.
Revision history
The Master is responsible for ensuring that the latest version of the manual is available on board.
| Version | Date | Editor | Revision history |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 12 March 2020 | Christophe Guegan | Initial commit |
| 1.1 | 28 Sept 2025 | Christophe Guegan | Rewrite |