Blog Safety

Maritime Safety Guide

By Lanier Law Firm

| 19 July 2023

Nearly all world industries rely heavily on maritime shipping. Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki‑moon once quipped, “Maritime transport is the backbone of global trade and the global economy.” Maritime shipping is also considered one of the safest and most environmentally-friendly modes of goods transportation.

Due to the vastness of the oceans, safety has always been foundational to the shipping industry. The shipping industry was one of the first industries to implement comprehensive international safety standards set forth by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This maritime safety guide condenses the many rules and regulations ensuring safety across marine waterways.

What is Maritime Safety?

Maritime safety is the collection of measures to protect life and property at sea. Specifically, the guidelines come from the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). SOLAS provisions range from setting the frequency of ship inspections to implementing approved life-saving appliances. Crew member training and certifications also ensure that sailors follow best practices and protocols at sea. IMO generally oversees international shipping safety matters, but the organization is also responsible for preventing marine and atmospheric pollution.

Risks Faced by Maritime Workers

Maritime workers are exposed to many risks while on duty. According to the CDC, the marine transportation industry recorded 87 fatal injuries between 2011-2017, almost six times the rate of all U.S. workers. During the same period, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows 11,000 non-fatal maritime injuries.

The main risks faced by maritime workers include:

Accidents

Life at sea is unpredictable and often dangerous. Maritime workers can have life-threatening accidents every day while at work. Poorly placed objects on the ship’s decks can cause obstruction or slip and fall injuries.

Respiratory diseases and cancer

Maritime workers are often exposed to fumes, asbestos, heavy metals, and solvents, leaving them vulnerable to respiratory diseases. Shipyard workers and welders are also at high risk for cancer due to airborne hazardous materials in their workplace.

Fires and explosions

Fires and explosions can cripple a vessel, causing the loss of life, property, and goods. In the enclosed spaces of a ship, fire can spread rapidly. Fire prevention, detection, and extinction regulations seek to avoid total devastation, but accidents can still happen.

Falling objects

Loose objects like wrenches can fall from elevated platforms and pose a danger to the people below. Given the unpredictability of a rolling ship, any unsecured item can be a hazard.

Extreme temperatures

Exposure to extreme temperatures on a ship can cause fatigue, dehydration, high body temperature, and hypothermia.

Maritime Safety Rules and Standards

The STCW Standard of Training, certification and watch-keeping regulates the level of competence crew members need to join merchant vessels. The STCW entails training and certification, adherence to standard hours of work and rest, medical requirements, and more. The convention is a must-read for all maritime personnel. Its maritime safety rules and standards include:

International Safety Management Code: The regulations list safe management practices to ensure maritime safety and prevent pollution. It’s a foundational code of the SOLAS Convention, which regulates the safe management of shipping operations. It’s also an essential code for shipping owners, operators, companies, and maritime institutions.
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS): The SOLAS code protects maritime personnel and the sea. It describes the required safety rules for all merchant ships.
Life-Saving Appliance Code ( LSA): The International Maritime Organization provides international requirements for life-saving tools and appliances such as life jackets, immersion suits, visual aids, and thermal protectives.
Procedure For Port State Control: This procedure is done at nearly all ports worldwide. It sets the protocol for inspecting foreign ships to maximize sea safety while also controlling maritime pollution.
Fire Test Procedures: This code provides the international standards for the various categories of approval, laboratory testing, and fire test guidelines for products quoted in SOLAS chapter II. The code has multiple tests such as surface flammability, smoke, toxicity test, and non-combustibility. The procedures also have the global requirements for non-combustibility, smoke, and toxicity tests of A, B, and F class divisions. It also regulates fire door control systems and surface flammability tests.
Cargo Security and Storage Code: This code sets safe working conditions for securing containers on the ship’s deck and safe ship storage measures for motor vehicles.

International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargo Code and Supplement

The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargo Code covers the safe storage and shipment of solid bulk cargo. This code covers shipping risks for different solid bulk cargoes and outlines measures for shipping that solid bulk cargo.

Load Lines Convention

The Load Lines Convection regulation outlines a ship’s freeboard length and the stability of the ship. It also covers potential risks for different zones and seasons. The code primarily ensures that ships’ hulls are watertight below the freeboard deck.

International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR)

The Civil Aviation Organization and International Maritime Organization jointly publish a manual of mobile facility emergency search and rescue procedures. The manual should be on board all ships.

Collision Regulations ( COLREGs)

COLREGs work to prevent ship collisions. It is an essential guide for ship navigation.

MARPOL

The MARPOL regulates marine pollution and dangerous substances emitted from a ship.

Common Security Issues	Future Security Threats in the Maritime Industry
Common current maritime security issues include: Trespassing: Ships might enter a foreign country or territory without prior permission. Terror attacks: Terrorism can destroy valuable property and poses a significant security threat. Illegal maritime trade like fishing: Illegal fishing has led to considerable property destruction when the associated parties clash. Piracy: Maritime piracy is a major threat in the industry, leading to economic loss, lost time, transport delays, and high insurance rates. Human trafficking: Human trafficking can involve children, women, and men who have been exposed to hardships, sexual violence, and trauma. Environmental pollution: Oil spills affect maritime species. Air pollution from gas emissions poses a substantial risk to all living things. Thievery: Cargo theft can cost millions of dollars, resulting in poor economic growth.	Maritime security is constantly changing. In the future, the industry faces risks like: Cyberattacks: Most companies increasingly rely on technology, leaving vessels vulnerable to remote attacks at sea. Poor equipment: International maritime organizations need modern weapons to deal with potential terror attacks. Global warming: Just as extreme temperatures affect maritime personnel, global warming will also affect maritime industry staff, potentially causing severe health issues. Smart contract hacking: As hacking technology evolves, cases of contract hacking might increase. Maritime cloud vulnerability: Cloud vulnerability can cause insufficient integration, maintenance, and design of cyber-related systems. Social engineering attacks: Malicious activity can pose significant risks to the maritime industry. Staff can engage in dangerous social activity, make security mistakes, or give away sensitive information.

Common Security Issues

Future Security Threats in the Maritime Industry

Common current maritime security issues include:

Trespassing: Ships might enter a foreign country or territory without prior permission.
Terror attacks: Terrorism can destroy valuable property and poses a significant security threat.
Illegal maritime trade like fishing: Illegal fishing has led to considerable property destruction when the associated parties clash.
Piracy: Maritime piracy is a major threat in the industry, leading to economic loss, lost time, transport delays, and high insurance rates.
Human trafficking: Human trafficking can involve children, women, and men who have been exposed to hardships, sexual violence, and trauma.
Environmental pollution: Oil spills affect maritime species. Air pollution from gas emissions poses a substantial risk to all living things.
Thievery: Cargo theft can cost millions of dollars, resulting in poor economic growth.

Maritime security is constantly changing. In the future, the industry faces risks like:

Cyberattacks: Most companies increasingly rely on technology, leaving vessels vulnerable to remote attacks at sea.
Poor equipment: International maritime organizations need modern weapons to deal with potential terror attacks.
Global warming: Just as extreme temperatures affect maritime personnel, global warming will also affect maritime industry staff, potentially causing severe health issues.
Smart contract hacking: As hacking technology evolves, cases of contract hacking might increase.
Maritime cloud vulnerability: Cloud vulnerability can cause insufficient integration, maintenance, and design of cyber-related systems.
Social engineering attacks: Malicious activity can pose significant risks to the maritime industry. Staff can engage in dangerous social activity, make security mistakes, or give away sensitive information.

Taking Maritime Safety Seriously

The safety of any ship is reliant on the awareness and diligence of every crew member, but the vessel security officer (VSO) handles daily tasks that are specifically focused on security and accident prevention. It’s a serious job that requires a deep understanding of the vessel, the crew, and, of course, the many dangers of living life at sea.

Some of the tasks that the VSO is responsible for include:

Training the crew for emergency situations
Reporting and responding to security incidents onboard
Regular vessel inspections and recommendations for modification and repair
Monitoring and overseeing security equipment and procedures
Managing the coordination and movement of cargo

Safety Tips

To ensure a safe sail, here are some helpful tips:

Encourage situational awareness, staying alert to the ship environment.
Ensure good visibility and be attentive when moving cargo or when lifting equipment.
Report any mechanical malfunctions, electrical breakdowns, spills, or other abnormal incidents.
Always follow safety procedures. Wear recommended safety equipment, including helmets, shoes, goggles, etc.
Always ready yourself for work.
Report any illness. Do not work while injured, tired, or nauseous.
Learn maritime safety information from relevant training sessions.