Seafarers have a right to early signing-off from a vessel if temperature in accommodation areas is much higher than recommended limits

As you know, the Maritime Labour Convention covers all aspects of a seafarer's work on a ship. This also applies to the conditions of accommodation on board. So, the MLC says that «cabins and dining rooms are ventilated properly.» In other words, the temperature in the premises where the seafarers work and live is regulated by the national sanitary rules and regulations of the flag states of the vessel. In general, these figures are approximately the same in all maritime countries. Comfortable indoor temperature conditions are considered to be +21-23 degrees Celsius.

Not so long ago, a crewmember from m/v MSC Sariska applied to the Seafarers Union of Russia. The ship was under repair in the UAE and seafarer asked for assistance in discharging ahead of schedule, because he was not satisfied with the working and living conditions on board as they did not comply with the MLC. According to him, the air temperature in the cabins reached +37 degrees Celsius, and the air conditioning system on the MSC Sariska could not cope with the heat. Upon the request from the SUR, the Italian Seafarers Union contacted the shipowner, after which the company began to sort out the problem. An inspection of working conditions by the ship's captain was organized. He appointed an independent commission, which found out that in some cabins the temperature was really very high and rise to +40 degrees Celsius. 

According to the results of the appeal to the SUR, the Russian seafarer was repatriated before the completion of the contract of employment at the expense of the company. As well a list of troubleshooting works in the air conditioning system was compiled at MSC Sariska in addition to the planned repairs.