does a shipowner need to urgently provide medical care?

The general rule is yes. Regulation 4.1 (Standard A4.1 (b) and (c)) specifies that seafarers must be given health protection and medical care comparable in so far as is possible to that which is generally available ashore, including prompt access to necessary medicines, medical equipment and facilities for diagnosis and treatment. A seafarer must have the right to visit a qualified medical doctor or dentist without delay in ports of call, where practicable.

maritime duty of care

Maritime LAbour Convention

MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION (MLC 2006)

ARTICLE A4.1

1. (a) ensure that seafarers are given health protection and medical care as comparable as possible to that which is generally available to workers ashore, including prompt access to the necessary medicines, medical equipment and facilities for diagnosis and treatment and to medical information and expertise;

4. (d) the competent authority shall ensure by a prearranged system that medical advice by radio or satellite communication to ships at sea, including specialist advice, is available 24 hours a day; medical advice, including the onward transmission of medical messages by radio or satellite communication between a ship and those ashore giving the advice, shall be available to all ships irrespective of the flag that they fly

MARITIME LABOUR CONVENTION 2012

(ILO/MLO)

The International Labour Organization Maritime (ILO/MLO) has required all flag states to “provide seafarers with medical care as nearly as possible equivalent to the care they would receive ashore,” and to “ensure […] that medical advice by radio or satellite communication to ships at sea is

available at any hour of the day or night.

The MLC made evident that today's shipowner is required to arrange the necessary medical care and access to 24/7 advanced Medical Professionals. MORE Medical provides Topside Medical Support Services through 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year presence of experienced Emergency Response Physicians, nurses or other healthcare professionals for the seafarer onboard of the vessel. Our services provides medical case management and monitoring during the treatment onboard and through transition to shore, which in itself demonstrates the Articles in the MLC 2006.