Crew working hours

The chief scientist and the master agree on general scientific stations, tracks and kind of assistance required by the crew. The daily business is then managed by the chief officer.
The chief officer is in charge of assisting the scientific work on deck together with his crew. He is the person to talk to if anything is needed by scientists.

Due to international binding work law (MLC – Maritime labor convention) and German legislation a strict work- and rest time regime is in force for the crew on board. There is a regular work limit of 10hrs per day, except for special cases like e.g. arrival in port or departure. The chief officer is in charge of arranging the duties on deck acc. to the legal requirements.

To be able to do so, it is of utmost importance that the work requirements for day and especially night work are agreed on between the chief scientist and the chief officer well in advance, so it will be possible to grant the required rest times to the crew. The work and rest times of the entire crew must be documented and then signed by the master. During every port call the local authorities may check those documentation and fine the master in case of exceeded work times or too short rest times.

Usually the crew intensive work will be done during daytime and instruments which need only one or two decks crew will be done during night time. A 24/7 work is possible but with limitations to the required crew assistance. Please check at least one day in advance with the chief officer if special assistance is needed.

Some details for the preplanning of scientific programs:

9 deckscrew plus bosun plus carpenter are on board:

• 6 work in shifts of 2x4hrs. (2 x (0-4, 4-8, 8-12 o'clock)) → 2 persons available 24/7
• 3 are on dayshift OR can be changed to 2x6hrs or 2x4hrs watchsystem for a limited period of time → 3 persons available at daytime OR 1 person available 24/4 OR 3 persons available for 2 x 6hrs.
• General limitations:
  • one deckscrew on "bridgewatch" is legally mandatory for the nautical officer on the bridge due to nautical requirements
  • for demanding works on deck a foreman is necessary, usually the bosun. There is only one bosun.
  • for demanding and complex work an officer is necessary on deck, usually the chief officer. There is only one chief officer.
  • for demanding and complex work the master is necessary on the bridge. There is only one master.
  • some crew members have ship specific jobs to do besides the assistance for the scientific parties.
  • the flexible shiftsystem must be planned well in advance together with the chief officer depending on the situation on board (weather, ice, fog, diseases, scientific program, etc.)
• if necessary, a meeting between chief scientist and the shipping company can be arranged by "schiffskoord" well in advance of the expedition to sort out the possibilities and limitations.

The shipscrew (43):

Master(1)

Deck(15):
1 chief officer on dayshift for science, flexible 
3 nautical officers, one per shift  00-04 / 12-16;  04-08 / 16-20;  08-12 / 20-24  o’clock
6 ratings, 2 per shift: 00-04 / 12-16;   04-08 / 16-20;  08-12 / 20-24  o’clock
1 bosun on dayshift, flexible
1 carpenter on dayshift, flexible
3 ratings on dayshift, flexible

1 Doctor (assisted by one stewardess who is also a prof. nurse)

Engine (11):
1 chief engineer on dayshift, flexible
1 ships electrician on dayshift, flexible
3 engineers, one per shift  00-04 / 12-16;  04-08 / 16-20;  08-12 / 20-24  o’clock
3 ratings, one per shift: 00-04 / 12-16;   04-08 / 16-20;  08-12 / 20-24  o’clock
1 storekeeper on dayshift, flexible
2 ratings on dayshift, flexible

Electronic engineers (all dayshift)(4):
1 communication and bridge systems
1 laboratories
1 system administrator
1 cranes, winches, cables

Galley & housekeeping (11):
1 chief cook
2 cooks
7 stewardesses / stewards
1 laundryman