OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally and the second most frequent cause of death in Denmark. Due to their unique occupational environment, seafarers are exposed to numerous risk factors for CVD including lifestyle and work-related factors. This study aims to investigate CVD mortality among Danish seafarers by comparing them to the economically active reference population.
METHODS: This register-based cohort study included data on all Danish seafarers from 1993 to 2016 and compared them with the economically active Danish population not working as seafarers. The seafarers' mortality was calculated using piecewise stratified Cox regression adjusting for potential confounders. Mortality was further analyzed by diagnosis groups, vessel type and employment duration.
RESULTS: Among 52 861 seafarers, 4226 deaths were observed, with 866 (20.5%) of these attributed to CVD. Male seafarers had higher all-cause mortality in age groups 18-44 years (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.33 to 1.62), 45-64 years (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.37 to 1.50) and 65+ years (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.39) compared with the reference population. CVD mortality was increased for male seafarers aged 45-64 years (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.42) and 65+ years (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.48). The mortality was higher for male seafarers for ischemic heart diseases, other forms of heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases and diseases of arteries, arterioles and capillaries. CVD mortality was also observed based on vessel type.
CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence of elevated CVD mortality among Danish seafarers. Future research should focus on identifying effective strategies to improve the cardiovascular health of seafarers.
Increasing developments in the offshore energy sector have led to demand for robotics use in inspection, maintenance, and repair maintenance tasks, particularly for the service life extension of structures. These robots experience slippage due to varying surface conditions caused by environmental factors and marine growth, leading to inconsistent traction forces and potential mission failures in single-drive systems. This paper explores control strategies and mechanical configurations both in simulation and on the physical industrial robot to mitigate slippage in offshore robotic operations, improving reliability and reducing costs. This study examines mechanical and control modifications such as multi-wheel drive (MWD), PID velocity control, and a feedback-linearized slip control system with an individual wheel disturbance observer to detect surface variations. The results indicate that a 3 WD setup with slip control handles the widest range of conditions but suffers from high control effort due to chattering effects. The simulations show potential for slip control; practically, challenges arise from low sampling rates compared to traction changes. In real-world conditions, a PID-controlled MWD system, combined with increased normal force, achieves better traction and stability. The findings highlight the need for further investigation into the mechanical design and sensor feedback, with the refinement of slip control strategies and observer design for the offshore environment.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, its impacts on the maritime transportation and logistics field have been multi-dimensional. In addition to the green shipping corridor proposed by the Clydebank Declaration in the United Kingdom in 2021, port digitalisation and decarbonisation of the maritime industry have become focal issues in the field. The industry needs a new framework to offset the negative impacts of the pandemic and to accommodate integrated technologies comprising of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cloud systems, internet of things (IoT) and others, which have been applied to the industry. Having considered these circumstances, this paper aims to propose the 6th-generation ports model with smart port (6GP) as a new framework for the port logistics industry in the post-COVID-19 period. The proposed 6GP contributes to providing business development strategy and port development policy for stakeholders in the industry in the post-pandemic era reflecting focal challenges such as digitalisation, decarbonisation, sustainability and smart transformation. It also contributes to expanding port devolution theory from the fifth-generation ports (5GP) to 6GP.
Seafarers and fishers have inequity in health at work, with a higher risk of having metabolic syndrome. They are at increased risk of developing prediabetes, which can be reversed to normoglycemia based on the evidence from other industries. This study aims to educate and activate seafarers and fishermen with the support of coaches to reverse their prediabetes to stop the further development of diabetes type 2.
Methods
Random samples of seafarers and fishermen with newly diagnosed prediabetes and HbA1c levels ranging from 5.7%-6.4% from the maritime medical health examinations constitute the study population in a 16-week prediabetes coaching program. In addition to monthly Zoom meetings, they are asked to provide weekly reports via questionnaires on personal measurements and improvements in physical activity and diets.
Results
The preliminary data from 2 maritime clinics (n=405) show prevalences of prediabetes 18.8%, 36.4%, and 49.2% in the ages 20-29, 30-49, and 50+ years respectively, all p-values < 0.02.
Analysis of the clinical data from the maritime health clinics and the questionnaires from the seafarers collected weekly will formulate the effect of the intervention. Summarizing data from various national prediabetes coaching fora will be the evidence base for remission of prediabetes.
Conclusions
A significant portion of seafarers have prediabetes with the potential to achieve remission of their pre-diabetes by eating healthy and being physically active. The goals are to lose at least 5%–7% of their starting weight, be accustomed to doing at least 150 min. of physical activity weekly, and follow a pre-diabetes-relevant dietary plan.
Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea is a challenge that straddles multiple players and sectors, and crimes like piracy cause disruptions to international trade and shipping. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the global shipping industry tried to keep maritime security on the agenda, while advocating for global security assemblages, specifically, transnational policing initiatives as part of the maritime security governance. Using the notion of narratives and assemblage thinking, it is argued that although global shipping and Ghanaian state agents agree on the problem, they differ on which maritime security governance infrastructure to deploy, resulting in tensions between the two parties.
Background: Evidence on workplace safety and health promotion interventions shows that the
interventions have failed to demonstrate substantial benefits for seafarers. It is therefore important to explore what is the evidence of interventions with empowering elements regarding seafarers’ safety and health. This study aims to examine what is known about health promotion interventions in a maritime setting and whether they include an empowerment perspective. And secondly, what were the effects of these efforts. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed and NLM Gateway (for MEDLINE), Institute of Scientific Information/Web of Science (ISI/WOS), and SCOPUS up to July 2022 by using standard keywords including empowerment in the maritime setting. Data extraction was done by three independent reviewers. The quality of included studies was assessed by using the critical appraisal checklists from Joanna Briggs institute. Results: From 3313 studies initially identified, 10 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Interventions covered a wide range of topics such as educational interventions on safety, first aid training, weight management, healthy eating, sexual harassment, alcohol abuse, and cancer prevention training. None of the studies applied a specific theory or definitions of empowerment
even though their aim was to increase seafarers’ empowerment in these areas. Conclusion: The studies focused on improving the safety and health status of the seafarers, however, they had no explicit focus on participation and empowerment. Increasing research with an empowerment approach in maritime sector is recommended to enhance the feasibility and
success of the programs in this hard-to-reach occupation.
Background: Evidence on workplace safety and health promotion interventions shows that the interventions have failed to demonstrate substantial benefits for seafarers. It is therefore important to explore what is the evidence of interventions with empowering elements regarding seafarers’ safety and health. This study aims to examine what is known about health promotion interventions in a maritime setting and whether they include an empowerment perspective. And secondly, what were the effects of these efforts. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed and NLM Gateway (for MEDLINE), Institute of Scientific Information/Web of Science (ISI/WOS), and SCOPUS up to July 2022 by using standard keywords including empowerment in the maritime setting. Data extraction was done by three independent reviewers. The quality of included studies was assessed by using the critical appraisal checklists from Joanna Briggs institute. Results: From 3313 studies initially identified, 10 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Interventions covered a wide range of topics such as educational interventions on safety, first aid training, weight management, healthy eating, sexual harassment, alcohol abuse, and cancer prevention training. None of the studies applied a specific theory or definitions of empowerment even though their aim was to increase seafarers’ empowerment in these areas. Conclusion: The studies focused on improving the safety and health status of the seafarers, however, they had no explicit focus on participation and empowerment. Increasing research with an empowerment approach in maritime sector is recommended to enhance the feasibility and success of the programs in this hard-to-reach occupation. Systematic review registration number in PROSPERO: CRD42021260098.
The emissions of the maritime sector caused by ship transportation and other fossil fuel sources pose a threat to the environment and human health. It drives an increasing interest in adopting electrification solutions to revolutionize the conventional maritime energy-intensive and highly polluting industry. Accordingly, this thesis is one of the pioneering attempts to implement a seaport microgrid and carbon capture shore power system of cold ironing at a port dedicated to sustainability while remaining competitive.
However, the technological and research gaps of the conventional port scheduling paradigm constitute challenges in a synergy between the two prominent maritime electrification systems of seaport microgrids and cold ironing. The incorporation of cold ironing into seaport operations introduces new challenges to handling workflow and the potential impact of such integration has not yet been quantitatively addressed. Developing strategic management to improve port performance is always an issue for the port operators. This research gap motivated this study to develop an integrated operation and energy management framework by executing forecasting and optimization techniques for coordinating these technologies toward the emission neutrality goal.
This thesis begins with an extensive review of the significant aspects of cold ironing technology and seaport microgrids. A range of factors associated with the varying demand for cold ironing in seaport microgrids, requiring advanced forecasting techniques, are described in Chapter 2. Another challenge is that the integration of cold ironing with limited capacities increases the complexity of the existing seaside operation at port namely the berth allocation problem (BAP) and quay crane allocation problem (QCAP). It prolongs the waiting time for the ships to be served at berth. Thus, a seaside operational optimization model is developed in Chapter 3 to cooperatively schedule BAP, QCAP, and cold ironing assignment problems (CIAP). Chapter 4 integrates bilevel optimization as an energy management system (EMS) framework to coordinate the joint cold ironing with the seaport microgrid concept, providing more flexibility in energy scheduling while remaining cost-effective. Finally, Chapter 5 presents the overall conclusions of the thesis, research contribution, and future recommendations.
Background: Seafarers are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), potentially due to a stressful working environment and behavioral risk factors. To develop better prevention strategies, it is important to elucidate the extent of this risk. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review on CVD in seafarers. Method: We conducted systematic searches in five databases. All studies investigating CVDs among occupational seafarers, published in articles or conference papers, were eligible for inclusion. The identified records were screened and reviewed by two independent researchers, who also evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies. Results: Three thousand nine hundred and seventeen records qualified for screening, and 55 were eligible for inclusion. Most of the studies were observational, including cohort, frequency, incidence or prevalence studies, and review of case records. Around half were assessed at risk of biased findings. Participants in the studies were primarily from North America or the European continent and work onboard transportation vessels. Many studies investigated CVDs as a cause of death, focusing on conditions such as CVD, ischemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction. Frequency of CVD conditions varied but indicate that seafarers face a greater risk compared to the reference populations or control groups. Environmental factors were mainly investigated as risk factors. Conclusion: Our results indicate a higher risk of CVDs among seafarers compared to reference or control groups. However, due to the variable quality of the evidence, well-designed studies are needed to establish the causes of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in seafarers and to investigate behavioral aspects of cardiovascular risk.
Two different media platforms played a key role in keeping Tema Port in Ghana afloat during the period immediately leading up to and during the three-week COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown in late March–April of 2020. The one media platform, Eye on Port, is a weekly broadcast television show by the port’s authorities, which caters primarily to external commercial stakeholders of the port. The other platform is a closed WhatsApp forum used by stakeholders working at the operational level of the port. Both platforms served specific needs among their users, who had been restricted in their mobility but had to keep the port operational. Combining ‘scalable sociality’ with the concept of polymedia, we identify how the two media functioned to meet the different informational and conversational needs of their respective users. We argue that either medium alone could not fulfil the communicative needs necessary to keep the port operational during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.