Crew welfare top of Colombia’s agenda
(Posted on 12/11/20)
Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM) has taken the issue of seafarer care to a new level with the introduction of a series of initiatives that will promote their health, fitness and well-being to a standard not yet seen in the shipmanagement sector.
As part of its push, CSM has invested in, and is subsidising, ColumbiaCrewCare – a benefits package which offers seafarers life insurance and an investment plan for medical costs, disability provision, pension planning, or house/car purchase – all from a starting cost of €1 per day.
“ColumbiaCrewCare is a cradle to grave benefits package involving minimal and affordable contribution from the seafarer and very real benefits/investments for him or her and their families which are accessible at any time. When it comes to caring about our seafarers, we wanted to demonstrate real commitment and walking the walk as opposed to just talking about care,” said Norman Schmiedl Group Director of Crewing at Columbia.
Adopting a holistic approach to seafarer health and wellbeing, CSM has also launched its ColumbiaFit to assist its crew members get fit and ensure a healthy well-being. Not only will each crew member be equipped with his/her own fitness equipment, but a free phone app will help crew members record their weight loss and is both interactive and fun. It also gives the crew the option to sign up to fitness classes, yoga, relaxation and meditation techniques.
Research indicates that ill-health and obesity increase the risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19, so CSM has been working with its preferred catering partner MCTC to highlight the importance of nutrition and health eating. It has held a series of seafarer webinars on the issue, with the wellbeing of the seafarer always uppermost.
“We have adopted a holistic approach to the issue of the health and well-being of our seafarers; fresh, nutritious and healthy eating provided by our preferred caterer MCTC; 24/7 mental health support and professional psychological help provided by Mental Health Support Solutions; and now a respectable benefits package for each crew member no matter how junior and a corresponding commitment to fitness,” said Mark O’Neil, President and CEO of Columbia.
“Crew need to no longer feel invisible. Their welfare is very much in our sights and our number one focus. A healthy crew – healthy in body and mind – is a motivated crew, a better crew,” he added.
Latest News
Better safeguarding measures needed to support cadets at sea
(Posted on 07/05/25)Cadets are increasingly struggling to complete their cadetships due to a shortage of available placements... Read more
Algoma focuses on reliable service and fleet improvements
(Posted on 07/05/25)Algoma Central Corporation has reported its results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. Algoma... Read more
ClassNK releases ‘Prime Shipmanagement Guidelines’
(Posted on 01/05/25)ClassNK has released ‘Prime Shipmanagement Guidelines’ which aim to achieve sustainable... Read more
MCTC ensures quality remains at top of the table amid global tensions
(Posted on 30/04/25)In the face of unpredictable provisioning costs, port disruptions, and longer lead times MCTC has reinforced... Read more
NORDEN raises full-year guidance for 2025
(Posted on 28/04/25)On the back of the increased gains from sales of vessels and good operational performance, NORDEN, a... Read more
INTERCARGO welcomes ILO recognition of seafarers as key workers
(Posted on 28/04/25)The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has welcomed the recent decision... Read more
MMS advises why seafarers must remain vigilant about malaria
(Posted on 25/04/25)Despite its lack of publicity, malaria remains an ongoing epidemic and a perilous threat to seafarers... Read more
Veson: Bulker S&P activity falls sharply in Q1 2025
(Posted on 22/04/25)Due to market uncertainty, overall sale and purchase levels for Bulkers have fallen year on year, with... Read more
Britannia Group announces CEO succession plan
(Posted on 22/04/25)The Britannia Group, a leading P&I insurer, has announced that its Chief Executive, Andrew Cutler... Read more
INTERCARGO responds to IMO's decision on GHG reduction measures
(Posted on 15/04/25)At last week's landmark MEPC 83 meeting, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member States... Read more
