Tag: seafarer safety

The USCG published a final rule on April 1, 2019, 'Seafarers Access to Maritime Facilities' that requires owners or operators of a maritime facility, regulated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, implement a system providing seafarers, pilots, and representatives of seamen’s welfare and labor organizations access between vessels moored at the facility and the facility gate.

AMSA launched the 'Fatigue Survey - Domestic Commercial Vessels' focusing on the importance of seafarers' wellbeing when onboard. The survey aims to get an insight into how seafarers cope with fatigue in order to develop specific guidance, while also encourage safe management practices.  

The Indian Government launched a mechanism to keep safe the Indian crew members on board Indian or foreign ships and sailing vessels especially in emergency situations like a pirate hijacking or fatal accidents. Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of State (I/C) for Shipping stated that the Ministry of Shipping has prepared a Contingency Plan and documented Standard Operating Procedures.

The Panama Maritime Authority issued a marine circular concerning medicine chest and medical equipment, towards the shipping industry, highlighting the importance of seafarers having easy and fast access to medicine, when needed. 

Captain Rajesh Unni, CEO and Founder of ship manager Synergy Group, highlighted that mental health awareness should be a priority on first aid seafarer training, adding that more has to be done to understand and alleviate mental strains of life at sea, as the dangers became more apparent.

Working onboard a ship is a routine; Seafarers - regardless their ranking - live, interact and sometimes perform functions in the same place. Fatigue can trigger sadness and vice versa while active engagement in social life onboard has a real and positive impact on seafarer’s welfare.

Good quality sleep is critical for people working onboard and in this context, shipping organizations need to take the first step and implement control measures in order to minimize any interruptions to seafarers' sleep. The best way to control the health and safety risks arising from fatigue is to eliminate the factors causing fatigue at the source.

Prescribed hours of work and rest limits set out in IMO and ILO Conventions are considered to be the primary fatigue risk management requirements, setting minimum standards of compliance in international shipping. The industry needs more defensive layers than the hours of work and rest regulations to manage the risks of fatigue at sea.

Latest Safety and Shipping Review report by Allianz fears that industry could see an increase in human error and claims related to fatigue or a lack of crew engagement. Besides, human error remains a key safety issue and an underlying factor in many claims and fatigue is considered the main contributory factor in such incidents.