Because a voyage may have three OOW, including the skipper, but they legally need only stand 6/6, the captain can set the schedule to suit the circumstances. On the Inside Passage they might stand 4/8, but they might also stand 6/6, and put two officers and no AB in the wheelhouse, in the more dangerous parts of the IP, especially if there’s a second mate aboard that needs to get PPA pilotage-waiver time.
When they cross the Gulf of Alaska they usually stand 4/8, but if one the of OOW needs to get something done outside of watch, the skipper will revise the watch schedule accordingly. Example: Southbound a mate supervises the deck maintenance one day, so they go 6/6 with skipper and 2M that day.
But there are still voyages where they just do 6/6.
They probably have to. A towing vessel (or an OSV) can only divide into two watches on voyages of less than 600 miles. See 46 USC 8104(d) and (g)(1) and 46 CFR 15.705(c ).
When I was standing the 4/8 cycle, I would work some during the day, but not at night. It was a HUGE improvement over working the 12 x 12 on the same unit. As CE in a two to three man engine room, there HAS to be work done during the day and off watch.
I worked a 6x6 schedule (and you do not get six hours of sleep either), and turned the wrong valve dumping sewage in the bilge
Thank God it wasn’t oil over the side or some shit
I was a zombie.
Currently on 4x8 with OT
15 min of really good relax gives best result. But question is where to obtain this conditions< while living in a fast lane. Good question to think and to look around.
A little over 20 years ago I was listening to Radio Canada International (short wave) to a show called “Galley Copy” hosted by Michael Enright. He reviewed upcoming books that were getting ready to hit the shelves as they were in the printer’s galley at the time.
This day in 1997 he was talking with the author Stanley Coren who was discussing his latest book, “Sleep Thieves”.
I persuaded my local Library to purchase it. Fascinating look into people losing sleep in many industries…including Transportation.
And some harrowing stories of close calls resulting from their loss of sleep.
.
I worked 6+6 for over 30 years, sometimes as a single engineer on coastal tugs and barges. At times it worked great but as a single Engineer, not so much as you are called out at all hours.
Now, for most of my career I had at least one AE, sometimes 2. Working 6+6 with a good AE was great, working with a So so AE not so good. U used to tell the new AE’s that they could call me out at anytime and that I expected them to call for help when needed but I also said that if you called me out too much, I really didn’t need you as I’m up doing the work anyways. Most of them got my point and I never got anyone for calling me out unless it was something that they should have known and also something they had done before!
One thing that I noticed when working 4+8 was that the off watch spent way too much time watching TV (way before every boat had internet) and got less sleep than when we were doing 6+6. When we had three engineers and the AE’s had to share a room, I would give them the choice of 4+8 or 6+6 with me doing Day Work, they almost always chose 6+6.
Yes, more rest is always better but until everyone learns how to budget their time there will always be those that do not get enough rest.
The first company I sailed under SIU contract was 6&6. Had some pretty good assts. OT was anything over your 6 or out of dept. After 17 years of that sched, it was tough to go to straight day work on newbuilds with no OT.