Issue 204 mar/apr 2010
New body formed for maritime health
Los artículos en español aparecen en las páginas 6y7 Статьи на русском языке приводятся на стр. 6 и 7
Get your camera out! pages 4-5 Today is a gift page 7 Lifeboats: shocking deficiencies page 8
UK registered charity no: 212432 Scottish charity register no: SC039211
The Sea is published by The Mission to Seafarers
Editor: Gillian Ennis News: David Hughes It is distributed free of charge to seafarers through chaplains and seafarers’ centres. However, if you want to be sure of getting it regularly, send us £3.50 or $5 for post and packing and we will mail it to you for a year (six issues). It is available from: Kathy Baldwin The Sea, The Mission to Seafarers, St Michael Paternoster Royal, College Hill, London EC4R 2RL. Tel: +44 20 7248 5202 Fax: +44 20 7248 4761 Email: pr@missiontoseafarers.org Website: www.missiontoseafarers.org
THE new Videotel programme about entry into enclosed spaces is based on real case studies.
Programme launched to ‘make seafarers think’ AS concern increases over enclosed spaces deaths, training film specialist Videotel has launched a new programme, Accident Files: Entry into Enclosed Spaces. Based on real case studies, the programme shows how five highly experienced seafarers lost their lives
and how another almost died when he tried to help an unconscious fellow crew member as quickly as possible without taking proper precautions. Videotel says it hopes that the new programme will make seafarers think much more seriously before
entering enclosed spaces. The company says it has made the film because “despite much effort being put into formulating training programmes and initiating legislation, experienced seafarers continue to die as a result of forgetting or ignoring the most basic of rules”.
Masters seek mandatory training and specialist equipment
Concern mounts over enclosed spaces deaths
L
ACK of training and appropriate equipment on board merchant vessels are behind the continuing deaths of seafarers in enclosed spaces, according to former master and marine consultant, Michael Lloyd. Captain Lloyd told The Sea that he was frustrated by the lack of progress at the latest International Maritime Organisation (IMO) meeting on revising the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) convention. The subject of enclosed spaces training had been raised, but no papers
on the subject were presented or proposals made. A different IMO subcommittee will now consider the issue in September. The Bahamas has submitted a proposal to expand the requirement to have drills on all vessels, and not just tankers and gas carriers as at present, and increase the frequency to every month from once every two months. Captain Lloyd points out that 76 per cent of the enclosed spaces deaths that have occurred since 1997 were on ships other than tankers or chemical carriers. He says that on the
majority of dry cargo ships, those entering the tanks have to rely on fellow crew members, who have had no formal training, to rescue them, and that those directing the rescue will also have had no formal training in enclosed space rescue management. While supporting the Bahamas initiative, Captain Lloyd points out that drills are not the same as training. Seafarers, he says, first need instruction and certification in enclosed space awareness and rescue before they can be drilled in coping with emergencies. This is
the approach taken for both fire and boat drills, where fully trained personnel exercise skills they have learnt and been tested on. He wants to see the same approach taken with enclosed spaces. But he warns of another problem: at present, he argues, drills cannot be safely undertaken in most enclosed spaces because the necessary equipment is not usually available. For safe entry to enclosed spaces he says, specialist equipment, including oxygen meters, compressed air lines or breathing apparatus capable
of passing through small openings, resuscitators and appropriate stretchers should be mandatory on all ships. Captain Lloyd and ten fellow master mariners have raised the issue of the need for mandatory training for rescue from enclosed spaces with the UK authorities. They want to see an end to the situation in which UK regulations impose a duty on employers to provide training on entry and rescue procedures to all employees working in enclosed spaces, except for ships’ crews.
A NEW association has been launched which aims to represent and promote the health and medical interests of the world’s seafarers, port workers and cruise passengers, as well as improve shipboard hygiene. The International Maritime Medical Association (IMMA) is a not-for-profit organisation that will work alongside, and draw on the medical expertise of, the International Maritime Health Association, an existing members’ association for maritime doctors and port clinics. IMMA, which will be based in London, will not only represent the medical and health interests of the maritime sector globally, but will also act as a legislative watchdog and lobby for change as and where necessary.
Seafarers wanted who have experienced piracy THE Seamen’s Church Institute of New York (SCI) is conducting the first-ever research study into the effects of piracy on crews. As part of this it would like to speak to seafarers who have experienced piracy, including attacks, hostagetaking, or simply sailing through high-risk areas. Anyone willing to participate should contact clinical researcher Michael Garfinkle, PhD at +1 212 349 9090 extension 240 or by email to mgarfinkle@ seamenschurch.org The privacy of all participants will be strictly protected. The SCI has recently published Preliminary Guidelines: Post-Piracy Care for Seafarers, outlining preliminary strategies on caring for seafarers affected by piracy. It is available online at http://www. seamenschurch.org/ law-advocacy/piracytrauma-study and will be updated as the study continues. More on piracy on P2, 4-5 & 6