Focus on Maritime Medicine in the Orient
In March this year the first conference on maritime medicine was held in Thailand. The conference was arranged by the Thailand navy in cooperation with the International Association of Maritime Health (IMHA). The intention of the conference was to enhance attention and knowledge related to maritime medicine and to establish regional and international cooperation in the field.
Together with countries such as Bangladesh, Burma, Malaysia, Kampuchea and Vietnam, Thailand is one of the coastal states between China and India. Thailand is an important maritime actor in the region, for instance they are the only country in South-East Asia to operate a carrier. The country has a coastline of 3200 kilometres with wide-ranging activity in industry and tourism. Thailand also has a large maritime industry and the registered merchant fleet has a tonnage comparable to those of USA, Denmark and India.
The conference hosted over 300 delegates from various areas related to maritime medicine with the Thailand navy as the largest contingent. During 3 days of conference invited speakers from abroad gave18 lectures, 5 in Thai and 13 in English. The themes varied from maritime medicine in historical context and information on international actors in maritime medicine to discussions on health control of seafarers, and maritime medicine clinics.
From Norwegian Centre for maritime medicine several lecturers were invited to discuss the history of maritime medicine, occupational medicine in the offshore sector, medical activity in the cruise industry, global quality assurance of professionals in maritime medicine, and telemedical advice.
It is expected that representatives from Thailand will visit our centre since they have expressed the wish to learn how we have organised the services within maritime medicine in Norway.
The ISMH 2015
The International Symposium on Maritime Health (ISMH) 2015 will be in Bergen, Norway
Since 1991 professionals within the field of maritime health have convened every other year to share poroblems and solutions in their quest to improve the health and safety of seafarers.
The symposium is unquestionable the most important forum for all workers who are in any way connected to the most special and largest workplace in the world.
At the IMHA meeting in Pattaya in March 2012 the applications from Manila, St.petersburg and Bergen to arrange the 2015 meeting were evaluated and made subject to voting. Bergen was elected by majority (Bergen 5, Manila 2, St.Petersburg 1).
Towards a general consensus on medical standards?
Guidelines for the medical examination of seafarers differ considerably among seafaring nations. Some nations follow the guidelines recommended by the authorities (ILO,IMO), others have composed their own.
A harmonization of these guidelines among seafaring nations has long been the objective of professionals within maritime medicine and a good deal of effort has been made to draw up a new set of guidelines that will enable medical examiners to reliably select seafarers with the safety of the vessels and their crew as the main objective. A natural goal would be to encourage all seafaring nations to adopt the guidelines, something that would enhance the quality of the selection process and make the validity of the medical certificate universal.
Norwegian Sea Health Conference 2012
How do the different flagstates implement the MLC 2006.
Participants from all over the world met during the NSHC 2012 to discuss how MLC will be implemented by different flagstates. Presentations from Marshall Islands, Liberia, Cyprus, Isle of Man and Norway as well as the perspectives of ISF and ITF led to interesting discussions between the different stakeholders.
The DG of Norwegian Maritime Authority, Olav Akselsen opened the conference and emphasized the importance of the chosen topic, as well as the importance of this conference, which, as he said, together with the Sea Safety and Security Conference in Haugesund each September was the most important maritime conference in Norway.
It was strongly emphasized that although the minimum requirements are clearly described in the MLC, the implementation will lead to certain differences between flag states. This may be of importance to shipping companies having ships under different flags, and may find it beneficial to use only one flag for their fleet.
The new international guidelines for medical examinations of seafarers, expected to be released late 2012 from IMO and ILO, has trigged the discussion of quality assurance and audit of approved doctors. The wilderness of different health requirements today should be replaced by common requirements in the future. There may be a possibility for mutual recognition between flagstates regarding health certificates, and there may also be a possibility for mutual recognition regarding the approval of medical examiners.
IMHA has presented a solution to this, and the program from IMHA QUALITY was presented by executive secretary Dr. Sally Bell and professor Tim Carter.
After all, the MLC is about working and living conditions. Research director Arne Ulven emphasized the importance of professional competence in risk assessment, monitoring of the working environment and development of contingency plans.
Fisheries and the STCW-F got its own part of the programme, lead by professor Luisa Canals. The challenges in this sector is far bigger than for merchant seafarers, and often bypassed in discussions.
The 100 participants in the event also gathered for Dr. James Linds’ dinner on the 18th, and listened to professor Carters thrilling lecture regarding the 1926 Oslo Conference which was organized by the Red Cross after an initiative by dr Harald Engelsen. The conference discussed almost the same maritime health issues as we do today. Some of them have found a solution, others have not, and the focus has not changed much!
The director of NCMM, Alf Magne Horneland, welcomed all in the beginning of the conference, and also concluded and closed the conference by thanking all presenters, chairs, participants, organizing committee members for their contributions which added to the quality of the conference. He closed the conference by welcoming everybody back next year in April, at the NSHC 2013.
The NCMM Sea Pilot Project
A study on Norwegian sea pilots life quality and safety at work funded by the Norwegian Coastal Administration has been underway for some time at NCMM.. under the leadership of Arne Ulven and Bente Moen.
Comprehensive questionnaires focusing mainly on safety and safety culture have been sent to 294 pilots and their spouses. The response has been satisfactory with a response rate of 70 per cent.
Radio Medico Norway reorganized
Staff of Radio Medico Norway. From left to right: Alf Magne Horneland, Arne Johan Ulven, Erik Florvaag, Alfred Halstensen, Kjell Gisholt.
Prelude
The history of Radio Medico Norway goes back to the forties in the previous century. Until the end of 2010 the service was rendered on a voluntary basis by 4 independent highly qualified physicians who organized themselves. The service was completely mobile and the communication was based on mobile phones only. The doctors were paid on invoice by the National Health Insurance. Even if the service rendered by the group was considered excellent, the group had no budget, no possibility for continuous education or recruitment, not a modern filing system, and no quality control mechanisms.
