In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on seafarers, DNV has instructed its safety management auditors to address seafarer health, work and living conditions in their 2021 audits.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is deeply concerned that hundreds of thousands of seafarers have extended their original tours of duty far beyond the recommended maximum. It also acknowledges the “immense risk” that increased fatigue represents for the physical and mental health of seafarers and safe navigation.
The health and wellbeing of crew is vital to upholding safety standards. We believe that increasing our focus on the risks associated with seafarer fatigue in our safety management audits will help support safer operations at sea
said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV Maritime.
The new DNV audit protocol is grounded in the International Safety Management Code (ISM) and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) of 2006. The aim of these regulations is to ensure safety at sea by requiring companies to provide a safe working environment by assessing all risks to ships and personnel and establishing the necessary safeguards.
What is more, DNV has recently renewed their MMS audits around the fit for purpose concept, where auditors assess the effectiveness of management systems in meeting customer and regulatory objectives based on analysis of customer performance and needs.
The health and well-being of seafarers is of interest not only because of the need to prevent the spread and consequences of Covid-19 and comply with industry standards, but also because it is key to companies meeting their objectives and goals for safe and effective operations
concluded Georg Smefjell, Head of Maritime Management Systems (MMS) Services, DNV Maritime.
