Study on seafarer’s fatigue and its relationship with working rosters on ferries

The European Commission, specifically DG MOVE (Mobility and Transport), has issued a call for tenders EC-MOVE/2025/OP/0011 seeking a comprehensive study on "seafarer's fatigue and its relationship with working rosters on ferries." This tender represents an open procedure with an estimated contract value of €200,000 and a maximum duration of 14 months. The aim of the study is to systematically analyze the effects of different working rosters on seafarer well-being, performance, and maritime safety.

Eligible applicants likely include research institutes, consultancy services, universities, and organizations with expertise in maritime safety and seafarer well-being. The call encourages a thorough examination of factors contributing to seafarer fatigue, including work hours, rest periods, and shift patterns, while utilizing biomedical measurement tools to assess fatigue where feasible.

The geographic scope is primarily EU-based, though it considers ferry operations involving non-EU countries. The application process is electronic, and submissions must be made by August 11, 2025, at 16:00 CEST. The evaluation will follow a two-stage process where technical quality is heavily weighted at 70%, with price contributing the remaining 30%. While success rates are not specified, competitive bidding is expected.

The tender documentation includes an invitation letter, specifications, a financial offer form, a draft contract, and several annexes related to agreements and subcontractors. A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, and the submission system supports all 24 official EU languages, ensuring accessibility for various applicants.

Overall, this tender represents a targeted opportunity for organizations capable of contributing valuable insights into maritime safety and enhancing seafarer well-being through rigorous research methodologies.

The European Commission, DG MOVE Mobility and Transport, has issued a call for tenders EC-MOVE/2025/OP/0011 for a study on seafarer's fatigue and its relationship with working rosters on ferries. The TED reference for this call is 110/2025 373805-2025. This is an open procedure, and submissions must be electronic.

The objective of the study is to methodically examine the issue of fatigue among seafarers working on ferries operating between ports of an EU Member State, between EU Member States, and between EU and non-EU countries. The study will examine how fatigue, influenced by different working rosters, impacts the well-being, performance, and safety of seafarers. The study should adopt a holistic approach, considering all elements that contribute to seafarers' fatigue, such as long working hours, insufficient rest periods, irregular shift patterns, and the demanding nature of work onboard the ship, with a primary focus on the impact of working rosters. The study should analyze different roster schedules and aim to identify patterns and correlations between specific roster configurations and the incidence of fatigue-related symptoms among crew members. The study should integrate biomedical measurements tools to assess the fatigue if possible. The goal is to provide evidence-based insights that can feed policy initiatives, promoting enhanced seafarer well-being and ensuring the highest standards of maritime safety.

The estimated total value of the contract is 200,000 EUR. The contract's nature is for services, and the maximum contract duration is 14 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. A framework agreement is not applicable.

Key milestones include a TED publication date of June 11, 2025, a public opening date and time of August 12, 2025, at 10:00 Europe/Brussels time, and a deadline for receipt of tenders on August 11, 2025, at 16:00 Europe/Brussels time. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after August 1, 2025, at 05:00 Europe/Brussels time.

The main classification (CPV) code for this tender is 73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services.

The following documents are available for download:

Invitation letter, published on June 11, 2025, version 1, no translations available.
Tender specifications EC-MOVE2025OP0011 seafarers fatigue final version, published on June 11, 2025, version 1, no translations available.
Annex 6 Financial offer form final, published on June 11, 2025, version 1, no translations available.
Draft contract direct-service-FV-2025-267 seafarers fatigue final v. SRD1, published on June 11, 2025, version 1, no translations available.
Annex 3 Agreement Power of Attorney, other invitation to tender document, published on June 11, 2025, version 1, no translations available.
Annex 4 list identified subcontractors, other invitation to tender document, published on June 11, 2025, version 1, no translations available.
Annex 5 Commitment letter, other invitation to tender document, published on June 11, 2025, version 1, no translations available.
Appendix 1 Security requirements en 2025 v. SRD1, other invitation to tender document, published on June 11, 2025, version 1, no translations available.
Annex 2 Declaration on honour EC-MOVE2025OP0011 v. SRD1, other invitation to tender document, published on June 11, 2025, version 1, no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and their answers are:

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In summary, this is a call for tenders by the European Commission, DG MOVE, seeking a comprehensive study on seafarer fatigue and its relationship with working rosters on ferries. The study aims to analyze the impact of different working schedules on seafarers' well-being, performance, and safety, with the goal of providing evidence-based insights for policy initiatives to enhance maritime safety and promote a healthier working environment for seafarers. The tender is open for electronic submissions, with a deadline of August 11, 2025. The maximum contract duration is 14 months, and the estimated total value is 200,000 EUR.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of the tender, it is likely open to research institutes, consultancy services, universities, and other organizations with expertise in maritime safety, seafarer well-being, and research methodologies. The inclusion of "list identified subcontractors" as an annex suggests that both single applicants and consortia may be eligible, with the possibility of subcontracting specific tasks.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for a study, and the selected tenderer will be contracted to provide research services.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to allow both single applicants and consortia. The inclusion of "Annex 4 list identified subcontractors" suggests that applicants can involve subcontractors, implying that consortia are permissible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The study focuses on ferries operating between ports of an EU Member State, between EU Member States, and ports between EU and non-EU countries. This suggests that the geographic eligibility for applicants includes entities from EU Member States and potentially entities from non-EU countries if they can demonstrate relevant expertise and access to data related to the specified ferry operations.

Target Sector: The target sector is transport, specifically maritime transport, with a focus on seafarer well-being and maritime safety. It also touches on research and development services.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States and non-EU countries in the context of ferry operations. Therefore, the relevant regions are EU and international.

Project Stage: The project stage is research. The call is for a comprehensive study to examine seafarer fatigue and its relationship with working rosters.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 200,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for providing research services, as this is a service contract.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned, but it is likely a multi-stage process involving submission of a tender, evaluation of the tender based on pre-defined criteria, and contract award.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not mentioned.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders (EC-MOVE/2025/OP/0011) issued by the European Commission, DG MOVE - Mobility and Transport, for a study on seafarer's fatigue and its relationship with working rosters on ferries. The study aims to methodically examine fatigue among seafarers on ferries operating between ports within the EU, between EU Member States, and between EU and non-EU countries. The primary goal is to understand how different working rosters impact seafarer well-being, performance, and maritime safety. The study should adopt a holistic approach, considering factors like working hours, rest periods, and shift patterns, with a focus on the impact of working rosters. The study should integrate biomedical measurements tools to assess the fatigue if possible. The expected outcome is evidence-based insights to inform policy initiatives for enhanced seafarer well-being and maritime safety. The procedure type is an open procedure, with an estimated total value of 200,000 EUR and a maximum contract duration of 14 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. Submissions must be electronic, with a deadline for receipt of tenders on 11/08/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Brussels. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 01/08/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Brussels. The tender documents include an invitation letter, tender specifications, a financial offer form, a draft contract, and several annexes related to agreements, subcontractors, commitment letters, security requirements, and declarations of honor. A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in this call for tenders. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information. The maximum number of documents allowed per tender submission is 200 files, and the maximum file size is 50 MB.