OCIMF and the maritime industry in general recognise the potentially serious impact and risks associated with the use and abuse of alcohol, drugs or other impairing substances by maritime personnel.

This Safety Alert is issued by The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) to bring to the attention of seafarers, owners, managers and interested parties the ongoing work of the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) and its members.

The IMO have issued new guidance in their Recommended framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

It sets out general measures and procedures that should, so far as practicable, be implemented by all the parties involved in facilitating safe ship crew changes during the pandemic. The framework considers both joining a ship and repatriation, comprising a protocol for each step of the journey.

In November 29019 the Seafarers International Research Centre in Cardiff published a report "Seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing".
The literature was inconclusive in establishing the extent of the problem of mental ill-health (and suicide) among seafarers relative to comparable populations. However, there was evidence of an increase in recent-onset anxiety and depression among serving seafarers and there was evidence that in some roles seafarers may be particularly prone to emotional exhaustion and ‘burn-out’.

This is particularly of concern during the COVID restrictions preventing seafarers from being relieved on time and the report provides some useful feedback to companies and employers in ways of improving seafarer life oboard.

The Office of National Statistics has reported that one in six adults will be experiencing a mental health problem at any one time. The chances of members of ships’ crews being affected are therefore statistically high – and may be exacerbated by particular aspects of seafaring, such as separation from family and isolation.