The American P&I Club shared figures on its PEME program for 2017-2018, noting that most medical conditions observed were lifestyle related, attributed to seafarer’s dietary habits. The Club has also seen a general trend and rise in the incidences of Hep B and Hep C conditions globally.
ISWAN announced that it is offering a new training course to provide management-level personnel on shore and on board ships with an introduction to mental health awareness. The course is also suitable for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of mental health at sea and how to support crew.
Challenges on board ships put not only seafarers’ strengths, but also their emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and health under strain. Lately, the focus shifts towards management-level personnel on shore and on board ships for supporting seafarers. This article is a look into different ways to encourage seafarers’ wellness.
Höegh Autoliners focuses on the importance of seafarers’ wellness when at sea, highlighting that is crucial to ensure that good mental and physical health is not only a matter for the individual but for the organisation as a whole. Seafarers face many challenges when onboard, travelling for many days; The long time away from family and friends is amongst the most challenging situations they face.
International maritime charity Sailors’ Society calls American shipping companies to make sure their seafarers receive wellness training to best prepare them for life at sea. The move coincides with National Maritime Day (22 May) and it responds to a study into seafarers’ mental health the charity carried out with Yale University, which highlighted that over a quarter of seafarers suffer from depression.
As mental health issues have risen as a big topic for every industry and the maritime included, Captains and Chief Officers have an important role to play in leading by example, to encourage and actively protect good mental health onboard, the UK P&I Club advised.
MHFA England published an infographic aiming to boost wellbeing at work. The infographic includes 30-minute activities that anyone can carry in order to improve their work experience. These activities can also be applied by seafarers and regard: motivation, movement, sharing, bonding, and discovering.
Inert gas is an asphyxiant due to the low oxygen content and contains low oxygen levels for life support, CO2, CO, NOx, SOx and traces of other substances. In addition, some of its components (e.g. carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, etc.) are toxic. Thus, all personnel onboard need to be aware of potential hazards.
The UK Club reported a case of a crew member who was recently repatriated after a period of insomnia and heart palpitations. The crew member was examined by physicians and diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder. Adjustment Disorder is a psychological condition that happens when a person cannot deal with a stressor or a recurrent event causing stress.
When working in hot temperatures, seafarers need to be aware of the dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke, also called sun stroke, is a type of severe heat illness that results in great body temperature. In such occasions, the body loses its ability to keep a balance between the heat entering the body and the heat leaving the body.
