I know that IOSH has little to do with the Maritime Industry (which I believe should change), however I feel I should bring up and important issue that at the moment is being overlooked.

Almost every country in the world has now banned seafarers from leaving, joining or even stepping off their vessels, which means that they are now stuck on board with no chance of repatration. This is already having toll on mental health on board as some have just finished 9 month contracts and were prepared and ready to finally go home only to be told that no country will allow them to disembark. It seems that once again seafarers are a footnote, while airline staff were declared essential workers by  the UN and are exempt from quarantine rules, seafarers are still considered "2nd class" and their welfare is not a priority. 

Another example of the issues surrounding "flags of convenience" and perhaps we are long overdue the ships flag reresenting the majority nationallity of its crew - except that would likely embarass the shipping lines if every flag suddenly changed to the flag of the Phillipines or similar. At least the crew would have legitimate reason to sail to domestic shores.

How a ship transporting goods such as oil, grain, PPE in a global market place is not "essential" someone higher up in the UN needs their bumps feeling. Most countries no longer manufacture thanks to decades of exploiting cheaper overseas labour.

Airline staff? lets just see these as the most likely vector for any unfolding global disease transmission - nothing jumps from one nation to another in less than normal sea freight time except where road or air travel is involved.

Originally Posted by: Kim Hedges

I agree with your sentiments about bringing maritime safety under the country of registration, I would also like to see the British Merchant Marine under the Red Ensign bolstered under new British governmental controls and laws - including obviously all safety law. 

I think a lot of it has to do with our extremely short sighted attitudes and a general lack of investment in all British Ports.  Yes there is security, but not much else, certainly no crew support on the quays, it's almost impossible to find a land line on a quay these days, let alone a border force control point to administer crews and passengers.   

The main problem of maritime regulations is the lack of it. HSE has memorandum of understanding with MCA and shore based regulations do not apply to ships, even if registered in the UK. Amongst other things I am responsible for writing the Safety Managment System for ships in our company and I must say, there is almost no regulations you can base it on. Scaffolding = 0, basket transfers = 0, respiratory protections = references here and there etc. The whole industry opearates on "guidelines" and "good seamanship", and when things go wrong... well let's hope it doesn't happen again. I would be very happy for IOSH to step in and have long hard look how ships operate and what regulations need to be established. 

I totally agree Wolf, sounds like UK Law needs to catch up and pass some modern addendums to existing laws to make them fit for purpose, perhaps as 'simple' as 'UK waters' UK laws apply, no matter what flag. 

I helped unload a ship in Pembroke Dock, last year, Italian Cargo, for a Welsh Port, Philipino Crew, Russian Captain.  We unloaded a new refinery (the previous one blew up) in loads of white parcels.  The ships 2 cranes were to say the least novel, the lifting equipment uncertain.  We had brought a contract lift crane with us and had many experienced slingers present.  Nothing went wrong with the contract lift, as all the paperwork and RAMS were correct, but the ships crew, crane training certificates, everything was missing!  They lifted using the ships cranes, we kept out of the way.   

Edited by user 31 March 2020 23:15:00(UTC)  | Reason: spelling

Originally Posted by: Kim Hedges

I totally agree Wolf, sounds like UK Law needs to catch up and pass some modern addendums to existing laws to make them fit for purpose, perhaps as 'simple' as 'UK waters' UK laws apply, no matter what flag. 

This has always been a problem area. Shipping is an international gtrade and any attempt to extend shore based laws to ships flying a flag of any other state is problematic. This does not prevent some states from doing just this (the US being a prime example) but it can and does frustrate trade.

I recall the then "flagship" of the UK, the QE2 "failing" a US hygiene inspection. However, the QE2 was fully compliant with UK law, it is just that US law and UK law was different (something about mixer taps in pantries I recall). Should the QE2 owners have modified the ship to meet the US laws and then invalidate all it's UK trading certificates?

Any unilateral action in an international trading situation should be avoided. That is the purpose of the IMO (International Maritime Organisation).