Following the Marine Safety Investigation Report No: 01/2018 and No: 10/2019 issued by the Marine Safety Investigation Unit, the Merchant Shipping Directorate has issued an information notice to remind all those concerned of the safety issues associated with excessive consumption of alcohol on-board merchant vessels and yacht.

One should note that the amended Section A-VIII/1.10 of the STCW Convention explicitly requires mandatory measures to prevent drug and alcohol abuse on-board. It establishes that the maximum limit of either blood alcohol content (BAC) should not be greater than 0.05% or 0.25 mg/L alcohol in the breath for those crew serving as Officers On Watch (OOWs). Therefore, it is the duty of masters to ensure that the drug and alcohol policy on-board is enforced and abided by. 

Masters and operators of Maltese registered ships are thus advised to carry out unannounced and regular alcohol tests on-board and to bring the afore-mentioned safety investigation reports to all crew members’ attention so as to emphasize the Company’s drug and alcohol policy.

Read the complete Merchant Shipping Information Notice 29 Rev.1,.

For more information on the above, please contact Stephan Piazza.