More shipboard oxygen required

(Posted on 16/07/20)

Leading maritime safety specialist Survitec is highlighting the need to ensure there is sufficient medical oxygen onboard vessels in the event of crews and passengers becoming ill with a respiratory infection.

While the IMDG Code and MFAG guidelines require operators to carry 44 litres of medical oxygen at 200 bar as minimum, Survitec recommends increasing current supplies to ensure sufficient availability onboard should crews contract Covid-19 or any other respiratory infection.

“The current minimum may not be enough in the event of a new outbreak,” said Jan-Oskar Lid, Global Technical Sales Manager – Fire, Rescue & Safety, Survitec. “Most vessels will carry one 40 litre cylinder and two smaller 2 litre cylinders. A 40 litre cylinder operating at 200 bar with a flowrate of max 25 litres per minute will last for about 5.3 hours, but this is unlikely to be enough to treat more than one Covid-19 patient if a medical evacuation is not possible or cylinders cannot be quickly replaced,” he said.

A healthy adult requires about 7 litres of oxygen per minute, but Covid-19 can deplete this to dangerous levels. Depending on the severity of the infection, a single Covid-19 patient would need between 2 and 15 litres of oxygen per minute. In exceptional circumstances, Stage 4 Oxygen Escalation Therapy has required 60 litres per minute.

“Although the number of cylinders stored onboard depends on a range of factors such as number of crew/passengers, type of cargoes carried and sailing/operating area, clearly, the current minimum will not be enough to treat multiple persons infected with the virus. We therefore recommend that ship/offshore installation operators and owners increase the number of cylinders they currently have onboard.”

According to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC, 2006), adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), a seafarer, while working onboard, has the right to health protection and medical care as comparable as possible to that which is generally available to workers ashore. This includes prompt access to the necessary medicines, medical equipment and facilities for diagnosis and treatment and to medical information and expertise.

“This is why medical oxygen is a registered medicine which is exactly the same as the medical oxygen gas supplied to hospitals and other medical facilities on shore. Medical oxygen is considered to be a prescription drug and is part of the medical outfitting onboard of a vessel,” said Lid.

To support its customers, Survitec has partnered with Netherlands-based Lagaay International to champion its ISO 9809-1:2019 compliant MedOx medical oxygen cylinders.

Joris Alberda, Managing Director, Lagaay International, said: “Survitec supplies a range of ancillary medical equipment to the global maritime industry, including oxygen delivery systems and resuscitators, all of which are compatible with our MedOx cylinders. We will now work with Survitec to ensure maritime industry demand for medical oxygen can be met.”

Lid added: “MedOx cylinders supplied by Lagaay are filled to 200 bar, the pressure recommended by IMO. Other regions around the world have different maximum filling pressure. In the USA it is 150 bar and some Asian countries it is 128 bar.”

Survitec has three MedOx delivery systems available to meet the IMDG/FMAG rules designated “Bedside”, “Outside” and “Norwegian”. Most flag states approve the “Bedside” solution, the most common method.

This requires the entire unit to be installed in the vessel’s hospital with the oxygen cylinder placed between two beds, mounted against the bulkhead. A fixed pressure regulator is placed directly on the cylinder. The oxygen flow is adjusted via the flow meter on the bulkhead.

Latest News

Posidonia 2026 takes centre stage amid global freedom of navigation challenges

From insurance and risk management to energy transition, digitalisation and maritime security, the Posidonia... Read more

First maritime compliance & prevention-focused organisation, PaS, joins DBCE

Prevention at Sea (PaS), a leading maritime compliance, auditing, and digital solutions provider, has... Read more

NorthStandard reports strong results and strategic momentum

NorthStandard has reported strong financial results, continued strategic progress and enhanced support... Read more

Latest guidance for vessel transit through Strait of Hormuz

Hundreds of vessels remain unable to transit the Strait of Hormuz and, in the event of a return to more... Read more

The Bahamas regains QUALSHIP 21 eligibility

The Bahamas has regained eligibility for the United States Coast Guard’s QUALSHIP 21 programme... Read more

First dedicated STS standard for dry bulk released by INTERCARGO

Ship to ship (STS) transfers are an established part of dry bulk operations, and they are growing. As... Read more

Columbia reinforces commitment to maritime talent

Columbia Group has strengthened its commitment to developing the next generation of maritime professionals... Read more

Jamaica marks 50 years at IMO with call for island states to shape future

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica has marked Jamaica’s 50th anniversary as a member of the International... Read more

Costamare Bulkers logs first profit after Cargill deal removes most legacy trading

Costamare Bulkers Holdings Limited has reported unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended... Read more

NORDEN strengthens fleet with the addition of four Handysize vessels

NORDEN have announced that they have expanded their fleet with the purchase of four dry cargo Handysize... Read more