Tag: medical care

Medical certificates for South African seafarers have officially had their validity extended from one year to two years, SAMSA noted.

With COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with a disease onboard has become a challenge due to the high transmissibility of the virus.

The Cruise Ship NCOE issued a marine notice to provide information to owners and operators within the cruise industry regarding new requirements established with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 (H.R. 6395).

Canada is introducing a new domestic marine medical certificate that will be valid for 5 years. This applies to seafarers working on Canadian-flagged vessels that operate solely in domestic waters.

UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency updated its Ship Captain’s Medical Guide (SCMG), which gives medical guidance for non-doctors working onboard a vessel.

A new strategic alliance in the shipping industry has launched a comprehensive Medical Advisory service for all types of vessels, from merchant to offshore, leisure and niche expedition cruises.

Amid COVID-19 era and the crew change restrictions that has brought, IMO launched guidelines for Port and Coastal States on how to safely transport seafarers ashore in case they need medical care.

RMI issued guidance on medical care aboard ships and ashore, including medicine chest requirements, recordkeeping, responsibilities, and training for medical care, in line with MLC Convention (2006).

As hundreds of thousands of seafarers have already exceeded length of their tour of duty onboard amid COVID-19 uncertainty, they should request, without delay, access to long-term medications that they require so that they can be delivered as essential items, the ITF noted.

In violation of MLC 2006, there have recently been several cases where seafarers were denied their legal right to medical treatment due to COVID-19 restrictions. In this regard, JNG and ITF urgently called on governments to step up and not use the COVID-19 to refuse seafarers’ human rights.