Maritime Health

The Coronavirus outbreak has set the shipping industry into a frenzy, with major shipping stakeholders issuing guidance and recommendations, ports halting operations until further notice and a feeling of uncertainty on how this emergency will be dealt with.

Potable water on ships must be obtained only from those water sources and water supplies that provide potable water and are approved by the health administration or health authority.

Working on ships is a challenging profession that needs energy at all times. That is why fatigue is seen as a significant contributory factor to many incidents in shipping industry and one of the major concerns for seafarers.

The galley is one of the most critical compartments on board. Galleys are subject to MLC inspections, therefore, they must be kept in such a condition so that could not cause food borne diseases, which can put vessel and crew in danger and consequently shipowners to face unexpected costs.

Smoking causes damage to nearly every organ in the body and is directly responsible for a number of diseases; nonetheless the majority of the smokers find it difficult to quit. Although many believe that quitting smoking is an easy task, in fact, it is a physiological and psychological challenge.

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).

MPA Singapore published a new circular regulating shore-based personnel boarding a vessel. The circular requires the owner, agent, or master to notify the Port Master in advance of any shore-based personnel expected to come onboard during the port stay in Singapore. The circular deals with personnel boarding the vessel in connection with for example repairs, surveys, and inspections. The boarding of bunker and ship supplies personnel does not need to be notified. Specifically, the owner, agent or master of the vessel must inform the Port Master three days before the arrival of the vessel, that the vessel will be conducting the activities mentioned in paragraph 1, and whether shore-based personnel (such as surveyors, P&I correspondents, superintendents and repair technicians) will be boarding the vessel at the anchorages or terminals. The following information shall be submitted: a. Name of vessel; b. Name of service provider; c. Purpose of boarding and scope of works; d. Full name and local contact number of shore-based personnel; e. The intended boarding date and time, with estimated duration on board; and f. The service provider’s Safe Management Measures (SMM), which must include details of safe distancing and precautionary measures for COVID-19 before boarding, when conducting work...

Change is an inevitable part of life. It happens whether we’re ready or not. One of the secrets of living successfully is to learn to handle the changes coming our way. Resistance to acknowledge change is only a temporary band-aid to the situation awaiting us and it could ultimately pose negative results.

Around 30,000 Filipino seafarers are to be vaccinated within June, as the country is rolling out a nationwide vaccination program for its seafarers in the facilities of the Association of Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP).

Seafarers are usually exposed to several stressors due to their demanding working environment. Specifically, they are confronted with mental, psychosocial, and physical stressors. The different duties onboard, separation from family, loneliness on board, fatigue, multi-nationality, limited recreation activity, and sleep deprivation are among the contributory factors of stress at sea.