The call to make the shipping industry safer for seafarers defines European Shipping Week 2017 currently underway in Brussels. Martek Marine, global maritime technology innovator, initiated the pledge urging shipping companies to invest in improved healthcare for crew members.
The company is stimulating industry regulators and decision makers to improve the facilities available at sea which protect and safeguard seafarers’ health. The call for increased safety comes after the publication of new research showing that almost 125,000 seafarers, around seven percent of the total, are evacuated while at sea each year due to ill health.
Additionally, around one in every five ships is forced to divert due to a medical emergency according to the International Maritime Health Association. This issue is compounded by the Maritime Labour Convention which means ships with less than 100 crew members do not require an on board doctor, often forcing ships to take more drastic action to receive medical assistance for crew members in need.
Leading by example
Martek Marine has pledged to donate $100 to charity for every life saved through the use of its revolutionary telemedicine offering iVital.
Paul Luen, CEO of Martek Marine, said: ´Over 90 percent of accidents at sea are due to human error and our aim is to equip seafarers with much needed support, especially among smaller crews. This is why we have developed iVital, to safeguard seafarers all over the world at a price companies can afford to pay. This is a product which has the potential to save hundreds of lives every year at a fraction of the cost of previous systems.´
Unlike other telemedicine systems which require a large capital outlay and various add-ons to operate effectively, iVital is a fully inclusive telemedicine service, comes with no upfront costs and can be managed with small monthly payments.
Now in its third year, European Shipping Week, 27 February to 3 March, is a platform where policymakers and industry regulators from the leading European Union institutions engage with ship owners and other stakeholders from the shipping sector.
