Dr Dirk Max Johns' attempt to discredit the WMU report into fatigue issues is truly astonishing ('Fatigue: another inconvenient truth', June 2021 Telegraph.) It implies that ship owners don’t think they have a problem when it comes to fatigue amongst their crews. They do have a problem, and a very long standing one.
Everyone who works at sea knows it, and anyone who has spent a lifetime at sea understands that the ever-decreasing size of crews, among a host of other factors have led to this dangerous position.
I was involved in two studies involving fatigue, and both these earlier studies have now been followed by the comprehensive WMU report. All of them going back years tell us just one thing: fatigue is a very big problem, one that has yet to be addressed by the ship owners, and apparently still not even recognised as such! A disgusting state of affairs that can only be addressed with international legislation.
While Dr Johns may claim the report was 'merely contract research funded by trade unions' he fails to understand that the core reason for these fatigue issues lies with his own members, the shipowners.
Nick Balls
More letters
Britain's WW2 government acknowledged Merchant Navy sacrifice
As you will know, this year marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day. I enclose a copy of a transmission, sent by telegraphy in May 1945, from the Admiralty to 'all ships', expressing the victory message to the Merchant Navy, from the minister of war transport.
Warm QM2 welcome for Cunard war veteran
Knowing that we would be marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day this year, I was honoured recently to welcome onboard a Merchant Navy and Cunard veteran of the Second World War.
New addition to Hull historic trail celebrates maritime education
On 27 March 2025 at 12 noon, the Old Boys of the Hull Trinity House School Association and the Hull Trinity House Brethren held a ceremony to celebrate the work of Hull Trinity House School over more than two centuries.