XI. Watch and Watch and Work-Day
Before the passage of the Seamen's Act there were no legal requirements as to hours of labor at sea, though long established custom had divided the deck crew into two watches and the engine crew into three watches, with certain variations in this plan in special trades. Under the Seamen's Act it is now provided that on merchant vessels of over 100 tons, except those engaged in river and harbor navigation, the sailors must be divided into at least two watches, and the firemen, oilers and water tenders into at least three watches, which are to be kept on duty successively for the performance of ordinary work, incident to the sailing and management of the vessel.
Seamen may not be shipped to work alternately in the fireroom and on deck, nor may those shipped to work on deck be shifted to the fireroom, or vice versa, subject to cases of emergency, in the judgment of the master or other officer. These provisions, however, do not prohibit the master or other officers from requiring the whole or any part of the crew to participate in fire, lifeboat and other drills when the vessel is in a safe harbor nine hours, inclusive of the anchor watch, which is a legal day, but in such case no seaman may be required to do unnecessary work on Sundays or on New Year's, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, provided that this does not prevent the dispatch of the vessel on regular schedule or when ready to proceed on her voyage.