Volume 11: Number 3: September 2004
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1 Heart attacks and strokes: not caused by stress but by seafarers' unhealthy lifestyle |
Heart attacks and strokes: not caused by stress but by seafarers' unhealthy lifestyle
With the increasing emphasis on safety in recent years, the Association has experienced a reduction in the number of reported claims that involve injuries to seafarers. However, there continues to be a fairly constant number of illness cases, to the extent that approximately 65% of the Association's crew claims are now illness related.
Two doctors in the Philippines have recently conducted independent studies of the reasons for the repatriation of seafarers to that country. The studies have shown that many of the illnesses suffered by seafarers are avoidable.
One of the most common conditions is hypertension (high blood pressure). In his report, one of the doctors states; 'Controlling hypertension has a key role to play in decreasing the causes of medical repatriation and avoiding permanent disability status.' If not controlled, hypertension can lead to strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases refer to problems with the circulatory system; the arteries, veins and the heart itself. Hypertension is symptomless and is usually discovered during a routine medical examination, or when complications occur, when it may be too late to take remedial action.
Hypertension leads to blood vessels becoming thickened and inflexible with fat deposits narrowing the blood vessels, restricting the flow of blood to the organs and tissue and thus causing damage. Such damage may lead to strokes and heart attacks. A stroke is sudden damage to the brain tissue, caused either by a lack of blood supply, or rupture of a blood vessel. There are a number of different types of heart disease but, to put it simply a heart attack is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the heart, which is essentially a muscle, causing damage to the heart, thus reducing its efficiency or, in extreme cases, death.
Hypertension, and therefore the risk of cardiovascular diseases, can be reduced by shedding excess weight, eating a varied healthy diet especially reducing salty and fatty foods, reducing alcohol consumption, taking regular exercise and, perhaps most important of all, giving up smoking. Smoking and excessive intake of fatty foods significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease caused by cholesterol clogging the arteries. Cholesterol occurs naturally and is an essential constituent of the body. However, when there are excessive quantities in the blood it is deposited on the walls of the arteries, causing them to constrict, thus restricting blood flow and increasing blood pressure. Reducing the intake of animal (known as saturated) fats will reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood. Some people have naturally high levels of cholesterol, which may need to be controlled by drugs.
The Japan Seamen's Union and the Philippine Seafarers Promotion Council has produced a book called 'Shipshape: A Seafarers' Guide to Sensible Cooking'. The book contains recipes for many international dishes and shows a practical and imaginative use of ingredients which can help to keep seafarers healthy.
- Give up smoking
- Eat healthily
- Take regular exercise
If you recognise any of the risk factors as applying to yourself it may be time to lose weight, cut down on the fatty and salty food, or give up smoking. Don't become one of our statistics!
The book is published by;
The Philippine Seafarers Promotion Council,
Standford Tower Condominium, M.H. del Pilar Str,
Malate,Manila, Philippines.
Email: pspc@greendot.com.ph
We hope this brief article on the problems associated with hypertension is informative.
Watch out in West Africa
Members trading to West Africa should be aware that the authorities in certain countries appear to be actively inspecting ship and crew documentation and taking a hard line if any deficiencies are found.
In a recent incident, a Member's ship was boarded by Port State Control officials shortly after berthing at Douala in Cameroon. The authorities carried out a thorough investigation of the ship's and crew's documents. Deficiencies were found in some of the crew's medical certificates, while some crew members' employment contracts were found to have expired during the voyage to Douala (it was intended that those crew would leave the vessel at the next port after Douala). The authorities also alleged that the ship did not have a current potable water analysis certificate.
Although the deficiencies were comparatively minor, Cameroon Port State Control imposed a substantial on-the-spot fine and would not allow the ship to depart before it was paid. Thanks, however, to the intervention of our local correspondents the Members were able to negotiate a reduction in the fine and the ship was allowed to leave without significant delay. In a separate unrelated incident, it has also come to our attention that the authorities in Nigeria recently detained a ship for several months. Amongst other things, this was reportedly on the basis that the crew's documentation was not in order.
Amid the fanfare surrounding the introduction of ISPS there has, perhaps, been a perception that it is only the authorities in more developed countries that are likely to take a strict approach to ensuring that a ship's paperwork is in order. Both these incidents indicate that this is not necessarily the case, and that there are increasingly few countries where the local authorities are unlikely to pay close attention to the documentation of visiting ships. Indeed, the Association's impression is that the authorities in certain countries may see the identification of deficiencies in ship paperwork as a potential means of generating revenue.
Those Members whose ships trade to West Africa need to be aware of the approach being taken by the local authorities in certain countries, and should ensure that the ship and all crew members are in possession of all required and up-to-date documentation. In the event of a problem with the local authorities concerning onboard paperwork, it is recommended that the Master should immediately contact the Association's local correspondent for assistance.
Beira port - careful navigation needed
Beira port is situated at the mouth of the river Pungue and the approach is cluttered with many sandbanks. The tides are strong (up to 5 knots) and there is a copious amount of silting in the channel, at the mouth of the river. There is, therefore, a risk of grounding if ships do not carefully navigate the channel.
Three new buoys have recently been placed in the channel which has made navigation easier. A navigational warning has been issued by the South African Navy Hydrographic Office on 19 June 2004 which gives the latest positions of all the buoys in the channel, including the new ones.
Masters are advised to check the latest position of the buoys prior to arrival in case positions of the buoys or depths in the channel have changed. They should also contact their local agents to find out the maximum permitted draft for the day which is issued by the port and inform the port of their accurate arrival draft. As per standard procedures, the passage plan must be discussed with the pilot and his comments, if any, logged.
If Members require any further assistance at Beira, they are recommended to contact the Association's correspondents in Durban.
Fumigation prior to loading
Ship's Masters are usually quite familiar with those cargoes which may need fumigation. However,Masters need to be careful when accepting the advice of load port agents that cargo has already been fumigated.
Our Correspondent in Indonesia has pointed out that fumigation of cargo ashore prior to loading often takes place directly alongside newly-harvested cocoa beans which have not been processed or fumigated. As fumigation often occurs a significant period of time before actual loading, there is ample opportunity for reinfestation. Further, whereas fumigation sometimes takes place at the port silo it is the case that the port fumigation systems are not always efficient. Masters should not accept unquestioningly advice from shoreside that a cargo has already been fumigated and is infestation free. They must therefore make up their own mind as to possible infestation following the usual inspection of the cargo as it comes on board. This advice is particularly relevant to cocoa beans shipped from Palu and Makassar.
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