The International Labour Organization (ILO) will review work-rest regulations for seafarers at a Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) in April 2025 in Geneva. This follows a 2022 World Maritime University (WMU) survey of 9,000 seafarers, revealing excessive working hours and widespread non-compliance with rest period regulations. The survey found that seafarers work an average of 11.5 hours per day, totalling nearly 75 hours per week—far above the ILO’s global standard of 43 hours. Many reported resting less than the required 10 hours per day, and over 78% said they never had a full day off during their contracts. To address these concerns, proposals include a protected online log system managed by flag states, allowing seafarers to report their work hours anonymously.
The chairpersons of the Round Table’s four member organizations — BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO —met in Athens, February 6, to discuss topics that included greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and the impact of geopolitics on shipping. But by far the most important topic on the agenda was how the industry, and the international community can help limit and put an end to the rise in unjust treatment and criminalization of its seafarers.
