Strong attendance and helpful dialogue were evident at the Jacksonville, Fla. union hall as Seafarers and SIU officials on July 10 participated in a safety meeting conducted by Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) Director of Quality, Environment, Safety and Security (QESS) Patrick Callahan.The gathering took place immediately following the July membership meeting. It was part of an ongoing and far-reaching effort by MLL to promote safe operations and general wellbeing throughout its fleet. Topics ranged from common safety practices to specific experiences aboard various ships and in certain ports.
For example, Recertified Bosun Pat Ray and SIU Jacksonville Safety Director Karl Leiter both noted that electricians from time to time need additional help on vessels that carry a lot of reefers.
Recertified Bosuns James Saunders and Barry Carrano pointed out that the industry as a whole has experienced gradual reductions in crew sizes. Both mariners stated that putting more individuals aboard the ships would enhance safety.
AB Todd Homer expressed concerns with some of the port and Coast Guard operations in Charleston, S.C., which he believes sometimes cause seemingly unnecessary delays for individuals traveling to and from the vessels, while AB Doug Hodges and Electrician Danilo Martin simply thanked Callahan for making the effort to keep Seafarers informed about the company’s various safety initiatives.
Many other safety-related subjects also were discussed.
Besides the Jacksonville meeting and a few more assemblies that recently took place at other SIU halls, the union has partnered with MLL to advance safety via different activities. One such endeavor is MLL’s “Drive to Zero” program, a system which is designed to help mariners and shore-side personnel focus on safety and teamwork in order to make the workplace as safe as possible. The name reflects the program’s goal of driving down unsafe and environmental incidents as close to zero as possible or eliminating them altogether. The results have been very positive since inception in 2007.
Maersk’s “Safety Boot Camps,” attended by MLL crew members, also continue generating desirable effects. Each boot camp is a two-day safety course conducted at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md. The most recent one took place last month.
Other MLL safety components include monthly safety council meetings attended by company personnel; a recognition program involving cash awards to vessels reaching certain milestones without any lost-time accidents; a separate cash award program designed to reward individual crew members who go out of their way to promote safety aboard ship; and on-board safety training.
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