Navigare 2- 2017

NEWS
ENGLISH TRANSLATION FROM PAGE 6
Weighty challenge for chief
Loosing weight has become a key mission for mother-of-two and chief engineer Julie Synnøve Bøe (44)
after an initial slimming drive to keep her medical certificate went into reverse.
TEXT: KJELL JØRGEN HOLBYE, MARKEDSMEDIA, KARI STAUTLAND, NMA
PHOTOS: TORBEIN K. GAMST, NMA
“It’s time to get to grips with this, and I’ve
given myself until the autumn to get my weight
under control again” says Bøe, who faces
another mandatory health check in October.
Before that happens, she wants to have her
body mass index (BMI) below 30 – the limit
for having to submit to a test of her physical
capability.
“That’s 30 kilograms in 30 weeks – an
ambitious target, but I’ll manage it,” says Bøe.
As a union official in ferry company Bastø
Fosen and an alternate member of the Norwegian
Union of Marine Engineers executive,
she knows about action.
Criteria
All seafarers must undergo a mandatory
medical examination every other year, and
weight is one of the criteria assessed under the
heading of physical capability.
Sight and hearing are also tested, and the
medical certificate forms part of general safety
work. Many shipboard jobs can be physically
demanding, and excess weight is one factor
which can prevent work being done in an
acceptable manner.
Bøe certainly handles big forces. On the
Bastø III ferry, she rules over two Wärtsilä
engines with an output of 3 300 horsepower
each.
“As chief, I’m responsible for all technical
equipment on board, and it’s important to be
able to move about easily and get through
narrow openings, for example, or work in
confined spaces,” she admits.
“The health requirements are also necessary
to ensure that everyone is capable of
performing their safety functions.”
Fitness
The CrossFit fitness regime is giving Bøe a
good start to her hefty challenge, along with
paying attention to her diet. She also maintains
a generally high level of physical activity.
TRENER: Julie Synnøve trener flittig, både i
friperioden og om bord. I tillegg passer hun på hva
som går gjennom munnen.
“It’s not hard to put on weight when you’re
working at sea – lots of sitting around and easy
access to food which isn’t exactly the healthiest
can soon tip the scales the wrong way.”
She has refused to eat a single waffle since
starting her diet, and urges shipping companies
to make provision for physical activity and a
healthy diet on board. “Gyms and conscious
cooks can make a big difference.”
Bøe has opted to be open about her weight
reduction programme on the web, and her
Instagram account is full of candid posts about
how things are going.
“Sharing on Instagram is motivational, both
for myself and hopefully for others struggling with
their weight,” she says, and adds that the occupational
health service also gives good support.
“I’d recommend everyone who wants to
start a serious weight loss programme to seek
help and backing. That makes the job much
simpler. Ultimately, however, it’s up to me.”
Impressive attitude
«We›re impressed by Julie Synnøve›s spirit and
attitude and hope that she will inspire other
seafarers who want a change of lifestyle,» says
Sverre Flatebø, who is head of the sports
service at the NMA. Julie Synnøve is a good
example that it is possible to make lifestyle
changes on your own, but seafarers who are
not sure if they can, may contact the sports
service for help.
«The sports service wants to help seafarers
to make a positive change towards a more active
lifestyle. Perhaps you›re experiencing health
challenges or lifestyle-related illnesses, such as
overweight, cardiovascular disease, high blood
pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol
levels. Or maybe you have realised that physical
activity and a healthy diet provide many benefits
and are eager to get started,» says Flatebø. The
Norwegian Maritime Authority has therefore
initiated a collaboration with the Norwegian
Directorate of Health as regards municipal
healthy living centres («frisklivssentraler»).
«We have called the project «FriskSjø»,
which literally means healthy sea. This is both a
preventive measure and an active effort to
reverse an unfortunate development,» says
Flatebø. The FriskSjø project may thus be
appropriate for workers who have been issued
a declaration of unfitness or a limited medical
certificate due to lifestyle-related illness. The
seafarer›s doctor considers whether participating
in a customised training programme can
contribute to the worker meeting the health
requirements in the long term.
Participation in the FriskSjø project
If you worry about becoming incapacitated for
work or being at risk of losing your medical
60 | Navigare 2 - 2017