AAs crew fatigue management and seafarer comfort increasingly feature on the international regulatory agenda, BIMCO asks the industry to share practical experiences on challenges and best practices relating to operational crewing and compliance with work and rest hours requirements. The survey will help BIMCO build balanced evidence on how these issues are managed in practice, and support its wider work on seafarers and maritime workforce sustainability, as well as its engagement in IMO discussions.
BIMCO has launched a new industry survey to gather practical experience on operational crew levels and compliance with work and rest hour requirements.
The survey aims to build a clearer picture of how crew levels, workload, rest hour compliance and recording practices are managed and compliance monitored in practice across different ship types, occupations and operational styles. It seeks to identify areas where current arrangements are working well and where practical challenges may arise.
Fatigue management, adequate rest and manning are directly related to the safe operation of the vessel. The survey therefore aims to help BIMCO contribute to ongoing regulatory discussions with practical evidence from those vessels in operation.
This initiative forms part of BIMCO’s wider work on seafarers and maritime workforce sustainability, including the Seafarers Campaign and enhanced focus on supporting the maritime workforce. This is also particularly timely as discussions continue at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on fatigue, working hours, rest, crew composition and the implementation of safety-related requirements.
BIMCO’s goal is to ensure that its engagement in these discussions is informed by balanced evidence from members and reflects operational realities. The survey does not seek to determine in advance whether current arrangements are adequate or inadequate. Rather, it is intended to help BIMCO understand how requirements can be implemented in practice and where industry experience can support proportionate and implementable approaches.
The survey also seeks views on areas where additional support might be useful, including practical guidance, models, member exchanges or evidence-based input into IMO discussions.
Source: Bimco, https://www.bimco.org/news-insights/bimco-news/2026/07/13-crew-survey/
