Singapore legislation

Section 17

of Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) Act 2014

Section 17

Restriction on working hours for young seafarer

(1)

Subject to section 16(10) and subsection (2) —

(a)

a person must not require any young seafarer to work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week; and

(b)

a shipowner and the master must ensure that a young seafarer is —

(i)

allowed sufficient time for all meals and a break of at least one hour for the main meal of the day; and

(ii)

allowed a 15‑minute rest period as soon as practicable following every 2 hours of continuous work.

(2)

A young seafarer may be required to work under conditions that do not comply with subsection (1) if the master is of the opinion that —

(a)

the effective training of the young seafarer in accordance with established programmes and schedules would be impaired; or

(b)

the requirements of subsection (1) are impracticable for the young seafarer assigned to watchkeeping duties or working on a rostered shift‑work system in the deck, engine room or catering departments.

(3)

The master must keep a record of all instances where a young seafarer is required under subsection (2) to work under conditions that do not comply with subsection (1), and the record must state the reasons and be signed by the master.