The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its seventy-first session (19 to 28 May 1999), considered the issue of human fatigue and the direction where IMO efforts should be focussed. It was agreed that practical information on fatigue should be developed to provide appropriate information on fatigue to all parties concerned.

MSC, at its seventy-fourth session (30 May to 8 June 2001), approved the guidelines composed of self-contained modules, each addressing a different party. The modules have been assembled using existing information, in a useful format, for transmission to the different parties who have a direct impact on vessel safety.

Shipowners, ship operators and shipping companies are strongly urged to take the issue of fatigue into account when developing, implementing and improving safety management systems under the ISM Code.