National and international seafarer fitness standards

Tim Carter

Participation

• IMO – maritime states, with employers, TUs, professional bodies as observers

• ILO – national labour depts, employers and TUs, with professional bodies as observers.

• National – variable. UK consultation with employers and TUs.

• Different consensuses so different priorities. Some want harmonisation, some protect sectional

interests. Employers add on their own systems.

International

• IMO STCW Manila amendments – include medical for the first time + QA

• ILO Maritime Labour Convention. Consolidates earlier conventions. Basis for most maritime medicine

• Revised ILO/IMO Guidelines on Seafarer Medical examinations. Details of good practice, draw heavily on UK experience (mine!)

Ratification

• Countries ‘ratify’ conventions• Must align national law with their provisions.• All law on maritime health (except International

Health Regs. of WHO) is national.• Commitment to and competence in maritime

health varies widely between countries, as do socio-political constraints

Participation

• IMO – maritime states, with employers, TUs, professional bodies as observers

• ILO – national labour depts, employers and TUs, with professional bodies as observers.

• National – variable. UK consultation with employers and TUs.

• Different consensuses so different priorities. Some want harmonisation, some protect sectional

interests. Employers add on their own systems.

Maritime Health Seminar 2012

“Knowledge into Practice”