Safety onboard is a daily concern for shipping companies and its crew, as well as shipping agents. The first priority is to ensure the safety of everyone, to protect lives, prevent collateral damages which can impact the environment and the ship from sailing effectively and efficiently. Ships have a duty to serve responsibility in transporting the cargo safely to its destination. It is Dräger's passion for safety - to deliver products that protect lives and keep the ships safe!

The IMO International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an international regulation that specifies minimum safety standards and requirements for safety equipment on board ships.

• It requires gas detectors to be on board ships for early detection of flammable gases, O2 deficiency and toxic gases. 

• It defines procedures to test the atmosphere of enclosed spaces prior entry.

• It includes the fireman outfit, respiratory protection, firefighter communication systems and emergency escape breathing devices

Irrespective of the type of ships, Dräger offers a complete portfolio of safety equipment that are mandatory onboard ships, including services, repairs and maintenance. Whenever people or assets are exposed to danger, those who are responsible for their safety rely on Dräger's safety equipment.

Dräger offers you:

• One contact point for safety equipment approved for using onboard ships.

• Service, repairs and maintenance support by our trained service engineers for all Dräger equipment. 

• Rental pool of all required safety-relevant equipment, from gas detection devices to personal protection equipment

In 2016, SOLAS regulation requires ships to carry portable atmosphere testing equipment, capable of measuring concentrations of oxygen, flammable gases or vapours, hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide, prior to enter into enclosed spaces.¹

In February 2023, it has been reported in the SeaTrade Maritime News that enclosed spaces remains a major cause of death among seafarers and shore workers.² This year alone, there have been nine reported deaths related to incidents in enclosed spaces, drawing attention to these accidents. In November of previous year, Intermanager welcomed a commitment by the IMO to review guidance governing safe working in enclosed spaces onboard ships. The upcoming IMO MSC 107 meeting, scheduled for June 2023, will develop a plan for revision IMO resolution A 1050/27 in relation to Enclosed Space Entry Procedures.

The aim to review the guidance is therefore to prevent more casualties to ships' personnel entering enclosed spaces where there may be an oxygen-deficient, oxygen-enriched, flammable and / or toxic atmosphere.

^References

^{1 Enclosed space ship safety rule enters into force (imo.org)}

^{2 Industry focus on tragedy of enclosed space deaths (seatrade-maritime.com)}

Shipping companies make their drug and alcohol policy based on the guides provided by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF). International Maritime Organization (IMO) recommends a maximum of 0.08% blood alcohol level (BAC) during watch keeping duties as minimum safety standard on ships. However, the amount of BAC allowed differs from company to company, where some allow maximum of 0.04% (During off hours) whereas others prefer 0% BAC.¹ Lately, most of the companies have totally banned possession and consumption of alcohol on board their ships.

For the first time under Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), mandatory limits for alcohol consumption are also being introduced (a limit of not greater than 0.05% blood alcohol level (BAC) or 0.25 mg/l alcohol in the breath), although individual flag states may choose to apply stricter limits.²

The main objective of these policies and standards is to prevent accidents, and ensure the safety of ships, cargoes and the seafarers. 

^References

^{1 https://www.marineinsight.com/maritime-law/what-exactly-is-mentioned-in-the-drug-alcohol-policy-of-ships/}

^{2 https://professionalmariner.com/new-stcw-crew-rest-hour-alcohol-rules-go-into-effect-jan-1/}