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GUIDELINES FOR THE CONTROL OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOLONBOARD SHIP Drug and alcohol abuse and its adverse effects on safety is one of the most significant socialproblems of our time.It is,appropriately,receiving attention both in the public eye and ingovernment legislation.An example,specific to the marine industry,ofgovernment attention tothis issue is the U.S.Coast Guard(USCG)regulations on the testing of personnel on nationaland foreign flag ships. Recognising the potentially serious impact ofmarine incidents,the Oil Companies InternationalMarine Forum(OCIMF),and the marine industry in general,have over the years developedguidance aimed at encouraging safe ship operation and protection of the environment.Whilsttanker companies have generally operated with strict policies related to drug and alcohol useonboard their ships,OCIMF considers it timely that the industry as a whole reassesses thecontrol ofdrugs and alcohol onboard ships. OCIMF recommends that shipping companies should have a clearly written policy on drug andalcohol abuse that is easily understood by seafarers as well as shore-based staff.In order toenforce their policy,companies should have rules of conduct and controls in place,with theobjective that no seafarer will navigate a ship or operate its onboard equipment whilst impairedby drugs or alcohol.It is recommended that seafarers be subject to testing and screening fordrugs and alcohol abuse by means of a combined programme of un-announced testing androutine medical examination.The frequency of this un-announced testing should be sufficientso as to serve as an effective deterrent to such abuse. The misuse of legitimate drugs,or the use,possession,distribution or sale of illicit or un-prescribed controlled drugs on board ship cannot be condoned and should be prohibited.Inaddition,any use of a prescribed controlled drug which causes,or contributes to unacceptablejob performance or unusual job behaviour should require the seafarer to be excused from dutyuntil such times as he is repatriated,or treatment and its after-effects cease. The suggested list of substances to be prohibited should include,but not be limited to,marijuana,cocaine,opiates,phencyclidine(PCP)and amphetamines and their derivatives.Inthis regard,the International Chamber of Shipping(ICS)has published guidelines onrecognition and detection of drug trafficking and abuse entitled'Drug Trafficking and DrugAbuse:Guidelines for Owners and Masters on Recognition and Detection'. Company policy should provide for control of onboard alcohol distribution and monitoring ofconsumption.This policy should support the principle that officers and ratings should not beimpairedby alcohol when performing scheduled duties. OCIMF recommends that officers and ratings observe a period ofabstinence from alcohol priorto scheduled watchkeeping duty or work periods.This may be either a fixed period,such as the4hours required by the USCG,or a minimum period of1hour of abstinence for each unit ofalcohol consumed(refer to table1for examples of approximate alcohol unit conversions).Whichever method is used to determine the abstinence period,the objective should always be toensure that,prior to going on scheduled duty,the blood alcohol content of the seafarer istheoretically zero.Officers and ratings should be aware that local regulations may be in placeand where this is the case,it is recommended that these be strictly adhered to where they exceedthese guidelines. |
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