Maritime drugs and alcohol policy

The Nautilus shipping union has expressed concern at proposals tabled by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) that could force shipmasters to carry out drug and alcohol tests on colleagues on board ship.

The union is concerned at plans to make masters responsible for enforcing criminal law – including having to randomly breathalyse their crew members. It has written a joint letter with Chamber of Shipping to the IMO arguing that “the implications of such a practice for staff relations and shipboard discipline – and indeed for shipboard safety – could be very serious.”

The letter warned that random testing is expensive, requires a chain of custody and is not appropriate in all circumstances. Nautilus argues that the industry has a good record of self-regulation in respect of its alcohol misuse prevention policy, and urged the UK to actively oppose the proposal.