Costa Introduces New Watchkeeping Schedule for Engineers

Costa Cruises has introduced a revised watchkeeping schedule designed to provide engine department officers with longer periods of uninterrupted rest between their shifts.

Under the new arrangement, two separate four-hour watches will be replaced by a single continuous six-hour watch. Costa said the vessel’s engine control room will continue to be staffed around the clock.

With a traditional watchkeeping system, officers may complete two four-hour watches within a 24-hour period. While this provides time away from the engine control room, the available rest is split into separate periods.

Costa believes its new six-hour rotation will allow engineering officers to benefit from longer stretches of continuous rest, giving them more opportunity to recover before returning to duty.

The cruise line emphasized that the revised schedule will not reduce safety responsibilities or change the importance of effective communication and coordination between members of the engineering team.

Watchkeeping officers are responsible for monitoring vital technical systems aboard the vessel, including propulsion, electrical generation, fuel systems and other essential machinery. Remaining alert is particularly important when officers need to respond to alarms, machinery faults or changes in the vessel’s operation.

Fatigue and a lack of sufficient uninterrupted rest have been longstanding concerns within the maritime industry. However, the effectiveness of Costa’s new approach will depend on several factors, including how the six-hour watches are scheduled, how many officers are available and whether engineers are required to perform additional duties outside their assigned watches.

Provided the system is supported by sufficient manning levels and properly protected rest periods, the new watchkeeping arrangement could give engineers more valuable recovery time while continuing to ensure the vessel’s machinery spaces remain covered 24 hours a day.