In a recent announcement, the Britannia Group has reiterated its commitment to the Pre- Employment Medical Examination (PEME) consultancy service, initially launched in 2018. Serving as a reminder, the group is introducing Your Excellent Health Service (YEHS) as the new provider of this essential service, designed to assist in assessing crew fitness for work and … Continue reading BRITANNIA GROUP INTRODUCES YOUR EXCELLENT HEALTH SERVICE (YEHS) AS NEW PEME CONSULTANT

Life at sea is marked by constant change, with seafarers spending extended periods on board, often between four to eleven months. Each crew change brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds and personalities, ideally fostering mutual respect and understanding. Nevertheless, the club occasionally receives feedback and enquiries on how to deal with conflicts among seafarers.  UNDERSTANDING … Continue reading DEALING WITH BULLYING AND HARASSMENT ON BOARD A VESSEL – TIPS FOR SEAFARERS

One aspect of maritime life that is essential is staying fit and healthy. Exercising on board a ship may seem like a daunting task due to space limitations, the busy schedule and changing shift patterns but it’s crucial for the physical and mental wellbeing of those who spend extended periods at sea. Not only is … Continue reading STAYING FIT AT SEA

For seafarers, the importance of maintaining hydration levels cannot be overstated. The demanding nature of maritime work, often conducted in challenging environments, makes it essential for seafarers to stay well-hydrated to ensure their safety, wellbeing and overall job performance. Dehydration can lead to a range of problems, including fatigue, headaches, and decreased cognitive function, which … Continue reading THE IMPORTANCE OF HYDRATION

The life of a seafarer comes with its own set of challenges and homesickness can be one of them. Spending months at sea can be an exhilarating and fulfilling experience, but it can also be incredibly isolating. Missing home and loved ones can sometimes only be cured by a return home, but seafarers do not … Continue reading DEALING WITH HOMESICKNESS AT SEA

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), commonly referred to as the “seafarers’ bill of rights,” establishes the basic working and living standards for seafarers working on ships registered in countries that have ratified the convention. These standards also apply when the ship is calling at a country that has adopted the Convention, regardless of the ship’s … Continue reading MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION UPDATES

The Britannia Loss Prevention team hosted its latest webinar, Mental Health. Seafarer’s mental health has become an important issue within the shipping industry. The nature of the job, which involves long periods away from home, high-pressure situations, and the need to adapt to different time zones, can all contribute to mental health challenges among seafarers. … Continue reading BRITANNINA LOSS PREVENTION WEBINAR: MENTAL HEALTH

The liver plays a critical role within our bodies and should be carefully looked after for it to perform its many important functions. This article details what seafarers need to know to help protect their liver from disease. WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE LIVER? The liver is the largest solid organ in the body. … Continue reading THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIVER AT SEA

The Club continue to see incidents where the use of alcohol or drugs has been a contributing factor. Drug and alcohol abuse is a problem that affects all industries, including shipping. However, the shipping industry can be particularly vulnerable to the problem due to the nature of the work. The long hours, isolation and high-stress … Continue reading DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED INCIDENTS

In Crew Watch we are always looking at ways to raise awareness about health- encouraging you to keep an eye on your own health and to look out for the health and wellbeing of your fellow crew. In this article we look at diabetes and prediabetes- the early signs of diabetes- and we set out … Continue reading DIABETES

There are still many cases of malaria that are reported to the Club. In the past five years we have dealt with 42 separate incidents. Tragically, a Chief Engineer, an Ordinary Seaman and a 22 year old-cadet lost their lives due to malaria. Malaria is spread by mosquitos and is mainly found in tropical and … Continue reading MALARIA – PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

A general cargo vessel ran aground on Sgeir Graidach Shoal in the Little Minch on the west coast of Scotland. Luckily the crew were safely evacuated from the ship by the local coastguard, but the vessel sustained extensive damage and was later declared a constructive total loss. The incident investigation report identified a number of … Continue reading WARNING OF THE DANGERS OF FATIGUE AND POOR BRIDGE PROCEDURES

In an exclusive interview with SAFETY4SEA, Jacob Damgaard, Associate Director, Loss Prevention, Britannia P&I, highlights that the maritime industry will only move forward with close cooperation between industry stakeholders. The interview talks about how crew welfare and setting ambitious environmental targets should be high on the agenda for 2022 as the time to address the … Continue reading SAFETY4SEA INTERVIEW WITH BRITANNIA’S JACOB DAMGAARD

Seafarers are facing increased demands on their workloads due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic . COVID-19 has had a serious impact on the way we all work and live, with lockdowns and working remotely the new norm. It has also adversely disrupted the lives and working environment of the approximately 2 million seafarers … Continue reading A LOSS PREVENTION PERSPECTIVE ON SEAFARERS’ WORK AND WELFARE DURING CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

In the last few years, we have handled more than 30 cases where eyes have been damaged. Luckily many of the injuries were minor and left no lasting damage, but some were much more severe, leaving the seafarer permanently disabled. Many accidents take place in the engine room, where working with potentially dangerous equipment and … Continue reading AN EYE ON SAFETY – AVOIDING ACCIDENTS ON BOARD