Enhancing seafarer safety today and beyond

Life at sea is a calling for many of the 1.9 million seafarers who help sustain the global economy. It offers the chance for adventure and a rewarding career but is also dramatically different from any shore-based job. It’s a profession marked by long periods away from home and exposure to a uniquely dynamic risk environment.

The nature of their work means vessel crews often contend with fatigue, extreme weather conditions and other operational hazards such as dangerous cargo. While it’s impossible to eliminate risk, maritime stakeholders must do everything they can to manage and mitigate it.

Using technology to enhance safety

Technology plays a vital role in enhancing seafarer safety. For example, container telematics solutions are helping our customers reduce occupational safety risks onboard container ships. Telematics is revolutionizing container shipping by improving visibility, cargo care, efficiency and asset utilization. What’s less well known, however, is its impact on sustainability initiatives. Container monitoring solutions contribute data to decarbonisation programs while enhancing security and improving crew safety.

Seafarer safety and welfare is the cornerstone of a resilient and sustainable maritime industry. By replacing some of the arduous routine manual checks of reefer containers with remote monitoring, telematics solutions can minimize seafarers’ time on deck and exposure to adverse weather and potentially harmful refrigerants, working at height and between stacks, slips, trips and falls, overhead hazards and more.

Deploying telematics to help automate repetitive tasks also reduces seafarer workload and fatigue—a factor in many accidents at sea. Seafarer fatigue not only hurts short-term performance, but it can also have long-term impacts on physical and mental health. By reducing fatigue, telematics can help contribute to improved seafarer wellbeing.

The importance of emerging technologies

While telematics is already improving seafarer safety and wellbeing, new container monitoring technology promises even more protection. AI and machine learning algorithms will enhance shipping lines’ ability to predict and prevent reefer malfunctions. This will help seafarers plan preventative maintenance more effectively to avoid adverse weather conditions and better safeguard rest periods.

The shipping industry is increasingly embracing digitalization to improve transparency and operational efficiency. As a long-term player in the maritime industry, we are committed to providing innovative solutions to promote the safety and well-being of those who brave the seas today and tomorrow.

Cody Lirette is Senior Content Marketing Manager at ORBCOMM. With over seven years of marketing and communications experience for both the public and private sector, he uses his passion for innovative technology and plain language to build compelling content that provides value.

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