MMI September 2010 - mmi home

6 Heartbeat News & Views
heartbeat
ISF launches new rest hour record software
The International Shipping Federation has
launched an updated version of its ‘ISF
Watchkeeper’ computer programme to
allow shipping companies to maintain
records of individual seafarers’ hours of work
and rest as required by international
regulations, including the latest
amendments to the IMO STCW Convention
that was adopted in Manila in the early
summer.
‘The ISF program allows shipping
companies to check, monitor and maintain
records of compliance with the complex
seafarer’s work hour regimes that have been
adopted by IMO and ILO, and which are
already bring enforced by port state control,”
explained ISF Secretary General, Peter
Hinchliffe.
seafarers’ hours of work. It has used this
expertise to develop a tool which is already
being successfully used by thousands of
ships worldwide, but which has now been
upgraded to make it even more userfriendly
and to anticipate the new IMO
STCW regime.
Mr Hinchliffe added: “Failure by ships to
maintain individual seafarers’ work hour
records that comply with the formats
adopted by IMO and ILO could result in ship
detentions during Port State Control. In the
case of an accident this could lead to
prosecution.”
Health Link is an electronic,
“However, the mandatory requirement for
web-based personal health
record that enables a patient
to manage his or her personal
medical information and
history from an internet
connection
ships to maintain individual records of
seafarers’ hours of work on board ship will
be given additional momentum by the
entry into force of the ILO Maritime Labour
Convention and the recently adopted
amendments to the STCW Convention.
Record keeping is now mandatory and will
be vital for ship owners to comply with the
requirement to maintain records which, due
to the complexity of the rules, can be almost
impossible to maintain without the use of
such a program.”
For the past 15 years, the ISF has
represented employers throughout the long
negotiations at ILO and IMO which have
resulted in two sets of complementary
international regulations governing
Mind matters
In its health and well being advice to
crew, the International Transport
Workers' Federation recognises that ‘the
isolation of seafaring can sometimes
take its toll’ and that ‘loneliness,
homesickness and burn out are the main
psychological problems’ seafarers may
have to face.
Arguably, additional factors such as
long voyages, poor diet, distance from
loved ones and a lack of access to
communications can all take their toll on
the psychological well being of a ship’s
crew. Ship medical examinations hold a
definite focus on physical health and well
being but when it comes to mental
health, are seafarers accessing correct
diagnosis and appropriate treatment?
Such concerns are not restricted to the
maritime world alone and on October 10,
World Mental Health Day will promote
mental health issues on both a
governmental and public education
basis. A global mental health education
campaign of the World Federation for
Mental Health, this annual project aims
to make mental health a global priority
and promote relevant issues including
the economic, social and human
arguments for providing sound mental
health treatment and methods of
reducing the stigma associated with
psychological illness.
It is hoped that through the support of
companies, individuals and groups across
the globe, World Mental Health Day will
make some progress in addressing the link
between working conditions and
psychological wellbeing. For further
information visit www.wfmh.org ❤
maritime medical international ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ september 2010