The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) issued an updated marine guidance note on alcohol limits for seafarers onboard UK vessels worldwide and for vessels operating in UK waters, under the STCW Convention. The new limit for blood is 0.05% or 50 milligram in 100 milliliters and the new limit for breath is 0.25 milligrams per liter of 25 micrograms in 100 milliliters.
The note seeks to explain how the regulation VIII/1, Code A-VIII/1 and B-VIII/1 of the STCW Convention, as amended in June 2010 (the Manila amendments), which brought in new provisions on fitness for duty – alcohol limits, applies to UK ships.
Any level of alcohol consumption by crew members onboard has implications for the safety of the vessel, the crew and any passengers. Even small quantities of alcohol have been shown to sufficiently impair judgment and increase the risk of accidents.
It is an offence for a professional seafarer to be impaired by drink (or drugs) whilst on duty on board a ship or at any time on board a vessel if they might be required to undertake emergency duties to protect the safety of passengers.
Change in alcohol limits for seafarers
- Among the Manila amendments were provisions introducing mandatory alcohol limits within STCW Regulation VIII/1 (Fitness for Duty) of 0.05% for blood and 0.25 mg/l for breath. The UK amended its existing alcohol limits, contained within the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, to bring them into line with the Manila amendments through the Merchant Shipping (Alcohol) (Prescribed Limits Amendment) Regulations 2015. These apply to professional mariners on all UK-flagged ships and to any ship operating in UK waters.
- The limits for alcohol in the blood prescribed in UK legislation are expressed differently and the table below sets out the STCW and UK limits in both notations to show how they correspond. Ships operating internationally will need to ensure that they are aware of, and comply with, these limits.
- The Manila amendments also included a recommendation that all companies should consider the implementation of a clearly written policy of drug and alcohol abuse prevention including a prohibition on the consumption of alcohol four hours prior to serving as a member of a watch. Guidance on introducing such policies has been produced by the UK’s National Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Committee.