Cruise Ship Crew Rest Hours MLC Compliance Audit

Audit template for reviewing cruise ship crew rest hour records and related schedules for compliance with Maritime Labour Convention and STCW minimum rest requirements, including watch-keeping schedules, compensatory rest approvals, and flag state reporting.

Audit Scope and Vessel Identification

• Vessel name, IMO number, and voyage dates documented
• Audit period and crew sample size defined
• Applicable standard basis identified
• Crew categories included in scope

Rest Hours Record Completeness

• Daily rest hour records available for each sampled crew member
• Records show date, duty periods, and rest periods without unexplained gaps
• Entries are signed or electronically approved by crew member and responsible officer
• Corrections, overwrites, or late entries are traceable and justified

Minimum Rest Period Compliance

• At least 10 hours rest in any 24-hour period
• At least 77 hours rest in any 7-day period
• No evidence of repeated rest-hour shortfalls for the same crew member
• Rest periods are distributed to avoid fatigue risk from split shifts or excessive interruptions

Watch-Keeping Schedules and Workload Controls

• Watch schedules are posted and match recorded duty assignments
• Overtime, drills, maintenance, and guest-service duties are reflected in rest calculations
• Fatigue risk indicators identified and escalated to the master or designated officer
• Crew assignments allow for adequate rest between consecutive duties

Compensatory Rest and Exception Approvals

• Any rest-hour exceptions are documented with reason and date
• Compensatory rest is granted after emergency or exceptional work
• Approvals for deviations are signed by authorized officer or master
• Outstanding compensatory rest is tracked to closure

Flag State Reporting and Corrective Actions

• Reportable rest-hour violations have been escalated per flag state and company procedure
• Corrective actions include root cause, responsible person, and due date
• Previous rest-hour findings are closed or have approved extension
• Supporting evidence is retained for inspection by flag state or port state authorities