Freight drivers are legally required to take a certain number of rest hours every day.

But how do ferry journeys impact drivers’ rest periods? In this article, we’ll cover the latest UK and EU government legislation.

Resting on Ferries - GB Regulations

In GB, there isn’t much official guidance concerning how ferries can impact drivers’ rest periods, perhaps due in part to the geography of Great Britain (domestic ferry journeys are rarely more than a couple of hours). 

Despite this, there are still mandatory drivers’ rest rules which must be correctly observed. 

It remains a legal requirement that drivers must take their full daily rest period—which is 11 hours (or a reduced 9 hours, up to three times between weekly rests).

When a driver takes a regular daily rest (11 hours) that is interrupted by a ferry or train journey, the rules are as follows:

Interruption Limit: The rest period can be interrupted a maximum of twice, with the total time of all interruptions not exceeding one hour.
No Compensation Required: Crucially, the time lost due to these interruptions (e.g., boarding/disembarking) does not need to be added to the end of the total 11-hour rest period. The total rest remains 11 hours (or 9 hours for reduced rest).
Sleeping Facility: The driver must have access to a sleeping facility (a bunk or couchette) for the rest to be valid.
 

However, in the EU, the regulations surrounding drivers’ hours and rest on ferries are slightly more complicated. 

Resting on Ferries - EU Rules

In the EU, drivers are entitled to a regular daily rest of 11 hours. The rules surrounding rest taken onboard a ferry align closely with the GB regulations but offer specific options for splitting the rest:
 

1. Regular Daily Rest Interruption (11 Hours)

• The 11-hour regular daily rest may be interrupted by a ferry or train journey, provided:
• The interruption does not exceed a maximum of two separate periods.
• The total duration of both interruptions together does not exceed one hour.
• The driver has access to a bed or bunk.
• No compensation for the interruption is required; the total rest remains 11 hours.
   

2. Split Daily Rest (3 hours + 9 hours)
Unlike the GB domestic regime, the EU rules explicitly allow the regular daily rest to be split into two periods within the 24-hour cycle:

• The first period must be at least 3 hours.

• The second period must be at least 9 hours.

  Note: This combination results in a total of 12 hours of rest (3h + 9h) and qualifies as a regular daily rest.

  The amount of rest taken onboard the ferry will depend on the split used. For example, if the driver takes the initial 3-hour rest period prior to boarding, they may take the 9-hour rest period during the ferry journey (or vice versa), provided all rest occurs within the same 24-hour period.
   

Interrupted Rest

As mentioned above, drivers in the EU can choose to take an 11-hour rest period or a 9 and 3-hour rest period (within a 24-hour period of working). 

According to EU legislation, a driver’s rest may be interrupted (for example, during the loading or disembarkment of the ferry) for a maximum of 1 hour in total, during a maximum of 2 separate interruptions. 

If the driver is taking their rest in two separate periods (a 9-hour and a 3-hour) then both interruptions must occur during the same rest period.  

If rest is interrupted in the EU, drivers are not legally entitled to add more time onto their rest periods to make up for the lost hour. So, if a driver rests for 3 hours prior to the ferry journey, and 9 hours during the journey, but their rest is interrupted twice on the ferry, they are not entitled to any additional rest hours. 

Travelling with more than one driver?

If more than one driver is travelling, then the rules will vary slightly. For crews with two or more members, 9 hours is considered a sufficient amount of daily rest, as opposed to 11 hours for single drivers. 

Rest for drivers - GB vs. EU

Both territories (GB and the EU) allow for a maximum of 2 disruptions to drivers’ rest periods. 

However, the major difference in regulations is that in the EU, the regular daily rest of 11 hours can be interrupted for a maximum of two periods (1 hour in total) - typically for boarding or disembarking the ferry.

Meanwhile, GB regulations insist that the full 11-hour rest period must be taken, and time lost to interruptions must be recuperated. 

Drivers must follow the regulations of the territory they are in.

For more information about drivers’ rest periods, visit the official Drivers’ Hours guide on the UK Gov website.

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