Volume 11: Number 3: September 2004

RISK WATCH
The Britannia Steam Ship
Insurance Association Limited

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 Associations crew claims are now illness related.
Two doctors in the Philippines have recently

Hypertension leads to blood vessels becoming

conducted independent studies of the reasons for the

thickened and inflexible with fat deposits narrowing

repatriation of seafarers to that country.The studies

the blood vessels, restricting the flow of blood to the

have shown that many of the illnesses suffered by

organs and tissue and thus causing damage. Such

seafarers are avoidable.

damage may lead to strokes and heart attacks. A stroke

is sudden damage to the brain tissue, caused either by

One of the most common conditions is hypertension

a lack of blood supply, or rupture of a blood vessel.

(high blood pressure). In his report, one of the doctors

There are a number of different types of heart disease

states;Controlling hypertension has a key role to play

but, to put it simply a heart attack is caused by the

in decreasing the causes of medical repatriation and

interruption of the blood supply to the heart, which is

avoiding permanent disability status. If not controlled,

essentially a muscle, causing damage to the heart,

hypertension can lead to strokes, heart attacks and

thus reducing its efficiency or, in extreme cases, death.

other cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases

refer to problems with the circulatory system; the

Hypertension, and therefore the risk of cardiovascular

arteries, veins and the heart itself. Hypertension is

diseases, can be reduced by shedding excess weight,

symptomless and is usually discovered during a

eating a varied healthy diet especially reducing salty

routine medical examination, or when complications

and fatty foods, reducing alcohol consumption, taking

occur, when it may be too late to take remedial action.

regular exercise and, perhaps most important of all,

RISK WATCH The Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited

Heart attacks and strokes (continued)

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.

Give up smoking

The Japan Seamens 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.

Eat healthily

Take regular exercise

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.

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. Dont become one of our statistics!

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 Members ship was boarded

paperwork is in order. Both these incidents indicate

by Port State Control officials shortly after berthing

that this is not necessarily the case, and that there are

at Douala in Cameroon.The authorities carried out

increasingly few countries where the local authorities

a thorough investigation of the ships and crews

are unlikely to pay close attention to the documentation

documents. Deficiencies were found in some of the

of visiting ships. Indeed, the Associations impression is

crews medical certificates, while some crew

that the authorities in certain countries may see the

members employment contracts were found to have

identification of deficiencies in ship paperwork as a

expired during the voyage to Douala (it was intended

potential means of generating revenue.

that those crew would leave the vessel at the next

port after Douala).The authorities also alleged that

Those Members whose ships trade to West Africa need

the ship did not have a current potable water

to be aware of the approach being taken by the local

analysis certificate.

authorities in certain countries, and should ensure that

the ship and all crew members are in possession of all

Although the deficiencies were comparatively minor,

required and up-to-date documentation. In the event

Cameroon Port State Control imposed a substantial

of a problem with the local authorities concerning

on-the-spot fine and would not allow the ship to

onboard paperwork, it is recommended that the Master

depart before it was paid.Thanks, however, to the

should immediately contact the Associations local

intervention of our local correspondents the Members

correspondent for assistance.

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 crews
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 ships

The Associations impression is that the authorities in certain countries

may see the identification of deficiencies in ship paperwork as a
potential means of generating revenue.

RISK WATCH is published by The Britannia

Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited
Tindall Riley (Britannia) Limited
New City Court
20 St Thomas Street
London SE1 9RR

The Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited is

happy for any of the material in Risk Watch to be reproduced
but would ask that written permission is obtained in advance
from the Editors.

Tel +44 (0)20 7407 3588

Fax +44 (0)20 7403 3942
www.britanniapandi.com

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

contact their local agents to find out the maximum

channel which has made navigation easier. A

permitted draft for the day which is issued by the

navigational warning has been issued by the South

port and inform the port of their accurate arrival

African Navy Hydrographic Office on 19 June 2004

draft. As per standard procedures, the passage plan

which gives the latest positions of all the buoys in

must be discussed with the pilot and his comments,

the channel, including the new ones.

if any, logged.

Masters are advised to check the latest position of the

If Members require any further assistance at Beira,

buoys prior to arrival in case positions of the buoys or

they are recommended to contact the Associations

depths in the channel have changed.They should also

correspondents in Durban.

Fumigation prior to loading

Ships 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 systems are not always efficient. Masters

fumigation of cargo ashore prior to loading often

should not accept unquestioningly advice from

takes place directly alongside newly-harvested cocoa

shoreside that a cargo has already been fumigated

beans which have not been processed or fumigated.

and is infestation free.They must therefore make up

As fumigation often occurs a significant period of time

their own mind as to possible infestation following

before actual loading, there is ample opportunity for

the usual inspection of the cargo as it comes on

reinfestation. Further, whereas fumigation sometimes

board.This advice is particularly relevant to cocoa

takes place at the port silo it is the case that the port

beans shipped from Palu and Makassar.