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Maritime safety: EP improves seafarers training and working conditions

EU law into line with the revised standards set by IMO Parliament endorsed crucial improvements to minimum levels of training, updated medical fitness requirements and tougher certification standards for seafarers on Tuesday. This will bring EU law into line with the revised standards set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and adopted by member states.The IMO's recent update of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarer's (STCWS) made significant changes designed to prevent fraud in obtaining certificates, raise medical standards and improve security training, including measures related to piracy and armed robbery.MEPs have also ensured that the new rules will preserve the EU's stricter limits on exemptions to minimum rest periods and they insist that the requirements for rest periods must be maintained in the case of drill.In addition, the text, which has been agreed with the Council, mandates the Commission to collect data on personnel operating in EU waters, for statistical purposes, in order to get a better picture of the seafarer profession in Europe.The legislation was adopted 619 votes in favour to 16 against and 16 abstentionsSource: EUROPA

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Action needed on places of refuge and casualty investigations

IMO rules should be subject to impact and sustainability assessment says ICS There are some clearly identifiable steps which need to be taken to enhance shipping's already very impressive record of maritime safety, according to International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe.Speaking at the IMO Alternative World Maritime Day Event in Bahrain this week, Mr Hinchliffe stressed the need for mandatory provisions to provide a place of refuge for ships in need of assistance, plus timely and obligatory reporting of casualty investigations by Flag States to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This would replicate the handling of aviation incidents.Environmental protection and crew and passenger safety can be addressed better by raising the current level of guidance on providing a place of refuge to a new level of obligation, he said.Pointing out that accidents may happen even under the most stringent regulatory regimes, Mr Hinchliffe said the industry's ability to learn from such incidents was hampered when accident investigations were not conducted in a timely fashion or the outcomes were not reported to the IMO."The track record of rapidly decreasing environmental impact by the shipping industry is the most powerful measure of the steady increase in the safe design, ...

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The North P&I Club gives ships officers something safe to talk about

Talking Points' is a new loss prevention initiative to help masters for safety issues at sea The 'A' rated, 170 million GT North P&I Club has launched a new loss prevention initiative to help get ships' masters and officers talking to each other about health and safety issues at sea.Announced in the Club's loss prevention newsletter Signals on 16 October 2012, the 'Talking Points' scheme involves producing a range of topical sheets specifically designed for handing out and discussing at on-board safety briefings.North's head of loss prevention Tony Baker says, 'While drills, training videos, guides and posters all help to deliver safety messages on ships, getting people to actually talk and think proactively about risk is the most effective way to raise awareness. Regular health and safety discussions also facilitate sharing of ideas and concerns and help seafarers to bond.'Elsewhere in today's Signals the Club draws attention to the importance of maintaining social interaction between crew members in the increasingly isolated and automated working environment of modern ships. 'Having a crew that is close-knit and of high morale helps ensure both mental and physical well-being on board, leading to a safer environment for everyone,' says Baker.Talking Points are basically two ...

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