Under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006), what is the minimum rest period for crew in any 24-hour period?

• A. 8 hours
• B. 10 hours
• C. 6 hours
• D. 12 hours

Answer: (B)

Minimum daily rest under MLC 2006 is ten hours in any 24-hour period. This rule is in place to protect crew health and safety by reducing fatigue, which is crucial for safe operations aboard ship. The ten hours can be taken in one stretch or split into two periods, as long as one period is at least six hours and the interval between the two periods does not exceed two hours. There’s also a requirement for a longer rest over the week—77 hours in any seven-day period. So the smallest rest period the convention requires in a 24-hour window is ten hours; shorter periods do not meet the standard, while a longer rest would still satisfy the requirement.