§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the majority of foreign-going merchant vessels, both steam and sail, carry besides the master two officers only, and that the result of this is that such officers are labouring under what is known as the two-watch system, entailing daily duty, including watch-keeping and attention to the safe navigation of their vessels, of at least fifteen hours on each and every day of the week, with no opportunity of obtaining more than three consecutive hours of sleep at a time; and seeing that, apart from the mental and physical strain thus involved, this two-watch system is calculated to jeopardise safety at sea, whether he will consider the desirability of fixing some reasonable limitations of the hours of daily duty at present demanded of deck officers of the Mercantile Marine?
Mr. BUXTONSome foreign-going ships carry only two certificated officers in addition to the master, but the matter is one which is receiving my careful consideration. The Board of Trade have no power under the Merchant Shipping Acts to regulate the hours of duty of deck officers on board merchant ships.