The International Shipping Federation (ISF), together with the UK’s Association of Port Health Authorities, Hamburg Port Health Center and Germany’s Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine,

has responded to what it see as an over-reaction by some port health authorities the swine flu (H1N1) pandemic.

The ISF accepts that seafarers are recognised as a population at
particular risk from the infection. It recognises that “public health
interventions at borders may play a role to delay or at least mitigate
the international spread of emerging or re-emerging infectious disease,
the focus with Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 is now on the appropriate
management of sick persons”.

But the ISF says that Free Practique is being denied or delayed when
ships declare respiratory disease on board. It says: “This is
inappropriate and not in line with the scope of the International
Health Regulations 2005 that seafarers are denied timely medical care
and assistance by port authorities in cases where Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
is identified onboard vessels within their jurisdiction.” It also says
that seafarers should be vaccinated against the virus wherever this is
compatible with the national vaccination strategies of ports of call.

Source: Maritime Global Net

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• IMMA launched to monitor the health of seafarers

    A new trade association armed with a broad mandate 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 is launched in London today (Jan 4th).… Read at IMMA launched to oversee seafarer health

• New Maritime Health Association protects

    A new trade association armed with a broad mandate to represent and promote the health and medical interests of the worldâ??s seafarers, port workers and cruise passengers as well as improve shipboard hygiene is launched in London today. Read at New trade association protects maritime health

• Enhanced Yoga ship

    Shipowners should consider encouraging their seafarers to perform yoga onboard ship as a remedy to possible diseases and ailments and as a way of introducing exercise onboard, the Chairman of the Shipping Corporation of India has suggested. Speaking at the 10th International Symposium of Maritime Health in Goa, Sabyasachi Hajara said

• To stop imprisoning our sailors

    The Round Table of shipping associations has called on governments to stop imprisoning seafarers without charge claiming that that the spread of criminalisation and unfair treatment will only jeopardise the global recruitment and retention of seafarers.

• To provide EU-led welfare facilities for seafarers and their families in India

    Indian seafarers and their families stand to benefit from two new welfare schemes in 2010, thanks to an initiative by an ITF-affiliated seafarers’ union. The two schemes, initiated by the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), will provide much needed financial help and assistance to seafarers and their families

• MLC 2006 are likely to attract more seafarers

    The plight of the seafarer came under the spotlight at the 10th International Symposium on Maritime Health in Goa as speakers from the International Labour Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation both pointed to the need for greater attention to… Read at MLC 2006 ‘could attract’ more seafarers

• Update BIMCO and ISF manpower study in 2010

    It has been 20 years since BIMCO and ISF first decided to conduct the original 1990 BIMCO/ISF Manpower study and both parties have recently decided to launch a 2010 update.

• Finnish Association and unions agree on mixed teams

    The Shipowners’ association and the different seafarers’ employee unions in Finland have agreed on the terms of employing seafarers from non-EU countries on Finnish-flagged vessels. The aim is to secure the supply of competent seafarers on Finnish and Åland cargo vessels. The share of foreign employees in a shipping company

• Health concerns about Australian Dredging

    Local residents in Fremantle, Australia, have formed an action group, after health concerns were raised over the safety of the Port’s inner harbour and channel-deepening project. Read at Health concerns over Australian dredging operations

• Latvian seafarers at sea again as recession bites

    Latvia has suffered more than most from the economic ravages of the current global recession but its difficulties has lit a light of hope for crew managers as larger numbers of its ex-seafarers are now returning to sea in search… Read at Latvian seafarers returning to sea as recession bites

• PROPOSED CHANGES TO Jones Act already having an impact SEAMEN

    The impact of proposed changes to the Jones Act and the use of foreign flagged vessels in the US offshore sector is already being felt by seafarers according to international shipping recruitment agency Faststream, with companies rushing to replace their… Read at PROPOSED CHANGES TO JONES ACT ALREADY IMPACTING SEAFARERS

• Justice for Cormorant crew

    The ITF yesterday congratulated the Danish authorities for acting to avert a potential miscarriage of justice against three seafarers. The men – innocent victims of a ship owner who took their passports and abandoned them and their ship – were close to being deported and given criminal records as illegal

• Improvements for seafarers

    Ongoing international negotiations between maritime employers and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have resulted in improvements in seafarers’ working conditions despite the current economic downturn. Sixty delegates from 17 countries representing international maritime employers and the ITF, known as… Read at Improvements for seafarers

• Union line could deny Kenyan maritime space in the white list

    A leadership row in the seafarers’ union threatens to delay Kenya’s plans to be included in the International Maritime Organisation white list in May. The Seafarers Union of Kenya (SUK) was suspended from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), an internationally affiliated body representing trade unions in the transport industry

• Maersk works to reduce emissions from ships

    This week, Maersk Line will conduct the first ever “fuel switch” demonstration on a container ship in the Gulf of Mexico as the result of a partnership between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA,) the Port of Houston Authority and Maersk Line.