Seafarer Special

Returning Sick and Injured Seafarers Home

  • Medical repatriation involves returning an injured or ill seafarer to their home country for treatment, focusing on both the welfare of the crewmember and cost control.
  • The process depends on the seafarer’s medical condition, including fitness to travel, the prognosis for care, and the availability of adequate medical facilities in their home country.
  • Transportation methods vary from road travel to air ambulances, often accompanied by medical escorts.
  • Multiple stakeholders are involved,...

https://mfame.guru/returning-sick-and-injured-seafarers-home/

ISWAN Highlights 2024 Welfare Challenges for Seafarers

  • Calls to ISWAN’s SeafarerHelp helpline in early 2024 showed a sharp increase in cases of abandonment (150%), mental health concerns (17%), and abuse or discrimination (28%) compared to 2023.
  • Abandonment cases often involved unpaid wages, lack of provisions, and fraudulent recruitment practices.
  • Mental health concerns frequently stemmed from financial struggles, family issues, and excessive work hours.
  • YachtCrewHelp data highlighted contractual challenges in the yachting industry.

The first...

https://mfame.guru/iswan-highlights-2024-welfare-challenges-for-seafarers/

IMO, ILO Adopt New Rules to Shield Seafarers from Criminalisation

  • ILO and IMO have adopted new guidelines for the prevention of unfair treatment and criminalization of seafarers at a meeting held in Geneva last week.
  • Existing guidelines on fair treatment for seafarers came into force on 1 July, 2006. However, the International Transport Workers ‘ Federation believes these have not been adequately enforced.

The third meeting of the Joint ILO IMO Tripartite Working Group to identify and address seafarers’ issues and the human element, which met in Geneva,...

https://mfame.guru/imo-ilo-adopt-new-rules-to-shield-seafarers-from-criminalisation/

Constructive Feedback Key To Seafarers’ Mental Health And Retention, Says VIKAND

With mental healthcare for seafarers emerging as a top industry priority, VIKAND, a global leader in maritime healthcare solutions, emphasizes the critical role of effective communication in supporting seafarers’ mental health, performance, and retention. Key to this is constructive feedback, which fosters a psychologically safe workplace where crew members feel respected, supported, and valued.

Challenges and Industry Findings

Recent research from Brother UK reveals that poorly delivered...

https://mfame.guru/constructive-feedback-key-to-seafarers-mental-health-and-retention-says-vikand/

Sailors’ Society Report Highlights Internet’s Impact on Seafarers’ Wellbeing

According to the Safety4Sea, The Sailors’ Society has released its “State of the Industry” report, which examines the vital connection between internet access and the wellbeing of seafarers. The report emphasizes how essential internet connectivity is for maintaining relationships with loved ones onshore and the positive impact this has on crew morale and emotional health. It also explores the potential downsides of over-reliance on digital connections, which can affect social interactions...

https://mfame.guru/sailors-society-report-highlights-internets-impact-on-seafarers-wellbeing/

Nautilus International Welcomes Stronger Seafarers’ Employment Rights

Nautilus International, the union representing maritime professionals, has voiced its support for new measures by the UK government aimed at strengthening seafarers’ employment protections. These efforts are part of the draft Employment Rights Bill, which is poised to introduce a range of new safeguards for those working in the maritime industry. The bill focuses on enhancing laws around collective dismissal and securing wage protections for seafarers, marking a significant step forward in...

https://mfame.guru/nautilus-international-welcomes-stronger-seafarers-employment-rights/

ILO: Draft Guidelines on the Fair Treatment of Detained Seafarers

  • The IMO’s Legal Committee met in person for its 111th session at IMO Headquarters in London from April 22 to 26 April 2024, and finalized guidelines on the fair treatment of seafarers detained on suspicion of committing crimes.
  • These are to be applied where seafarers may be detained in a jurisdiction other than that of the seafarers’ nationality on suspicion of committing crimes during their employment on board a ship.

ILO has issued Draft Guidelines on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers Detained...

https://mfame.guru/ilo-draft-guidelines-on-the-fair-treatment-of-detained-seafarers/

How to Protect Your Hearing on Board?

Seafarers and other maritime personnel are frequently exposed to high noise levels due to the nature of their work onboard ships. Prolonged exposure can cause hearing damage, manifesting as hearing loss, or other issues such as tinnitus, reports Britannia P&I.

 Protecting hearing at sea

The preferred method to reduce noise exposure is through limiting exposure and reducing the noise generated from machinery or activity. However, this is not always possible. When exposure to elevated noise levels...

https://mfame.guru/how-to-protect-your-hearing-on-board/

Enhancing Seafarer Well-Being: New Initiative For Injury Prevention

In a significant move to support maritime professionals, MarinePALS has partnered with the Seafarers Hospital Society (SHS) to launch the “Fit and Healthy at Sea” video series. This initiative aims to proactively reduce workplace injuries among seafarers by providing tailored exercises designed by licensed physiotherapists. According to Safety4Sea, the program is based on extensive data from SHS’s physiotherapy services, targeting specific muscle groups vulnerable to strain from repetitive...

https://mfame.guru/enhancing-seafarer-well-being-new-initiative-for-injury-prevention/

Protecting Seafarers: The Importance Of The Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause

The maritime industry, vital to global trade, relies on seafarers who ensure goods are delivered worldwide. However, the demanding nature of their work often leads to fatigue, exacerbated by additional tasks like lashing and unlashing cargo. To address this issue, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), along with the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG), introduced the Non-Seafarers’ Work Clause to protect seafarers from these added burdens.

The Importance of the Non-Seafarers’ Work...

https://mfame.guru/protecting-seafarers-the-importance-of-the-non-seafarers-work-clause/

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