06/031 - Fatigue on Tugs

I am a tugmaster in Australia, and as tugmasters in other busy ports fatigue is a daily fact of life. It is not just the towage but the frequent changes of times to shipping movements that disturb our sleep which affect all port workers (pilots, tug crews, linesboats, linesmen, shipping agents,etc.).

Tugs seem to be in a no-mans land as far as regulations here are concerned. The STCW95 code doesn't apply to us, neither does the state's "worksafe" legislation nor the AMSA guidelines.

In my previous life, deep sea, fatigue was already a problem on all type of vessels from container ships to general cargo, bulkies and Ro Ro's. The worst was as a tanker mate, the bane of my existence was new third or second mates who hadn't been on tankers before, forcing the workload back on the mate. Periods of 50 to 80 hours straight were not unknown, but at least I learned how to sleep standing up.

With crew reductions over the years, especially the demise of the Radio Officer, workloads have increased as has fatigue and it is now impossible to keep a lookout as required by the Collision Regs. Also on a personal level crew interactions in leisure time have decreased due to fewer numbers as well as different nationalities. The new port security means less time if any ashore. Making life at sea less satisfying for all concerned.

I have realised now that the "I can do it too" attitude is self-defeating but it is still prevalent everywhere by all accounts.

I think the Institute should press for greater manning on fatigue and safety grounds.