For seafarers, the vessel on which they work is both their place of employment and their home. While this vocation can be an exciting one, there are inherent dangers: in a seafaring role the risk of death, illness and injury are higher than those faced by the general population. This makes understanding and following the relevant safety precautions crucial.
The Importance of Following Crew Safety Guidelines
The International Safety Management (ISM) Code, from the International Maritime Association, represents a minimum standard, when it comes to safety legislation. The code is designed to be easy to understand and enforce and contains important information on crew safety precautions that should be followed. Other organisations or guidelines that give details on the subject of crew safety precautions include Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the MCA Large Yacht Code. The guidelines relevant to the vessel’s flag state should also be adhered to.
Ensure Anchoring Procedures Are as Safe as Possible
While anchoring is a routine activity undertaken on all ships, its potential hazards need to be comprehensively assessed. Seafarers such as Oliver Mills-Nanyn, who have experience crewing superyachts, know that snapback zones and danger areas around anchoring equipment must be identified and clearly marked. Furthermore, anchoring procedures should only be carried out by experienced and properly qualified personnel who are aware of the task’s potential hazards, as recommended by the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands.
Implementing Safety Guidelines and Regulations
It is not the safety guidelines alone that are vital: how these operating systems and codes are implemented is crucial to keep crew members safe. This means taking a top-down approach, from the captain down. Safety should be viewed as a team effort, and crew shouldn’t be reprimanded for reporting something that is not up to standard – instead, this is an approach that should be encouraged. The highest levels of safety possible should be a pervasive aspect of life onboard, alongside a culture of continual improvement.
Some of the most dangerous parts of a vessel are its enclosed spaces – take a look at the embedded PDF for more information about this.
Promoting Personal Responsibility
It is important for crew members to understand the cruciality of taking personal responsibility while onboard. Crew should look out for each other, apply common sense, and be aware of potential hazards both on board and ashore.