Seafarer health main priority

(Posted on 06/12/20)

International leading catering management and training provider MCTC says the shipping industry must continue to focus on supporting seafarers' overall wellbeing and health despite the prospect of a silver bullet in the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine.

While the vaccine offers a return to normality, seafarers health still needs to be a priority, it stressed.

Kyriacos Georgiou, MCTC’s Head of Catering & Training, said: “COVID-19 has really shaken up the industry to focus on health which has been fantastic. Governments advised people to focus on exercising and leading a healthy lifestyle and they listened. My fear now is that people will resort to old habits post-COVID-19. Living a wholesome lifestyle will be just as important moving forwards.”

Food Nutritionist, Nichole Stylianou, added: “The World Health Organization (WHO) promoted and encouraged healthy diets and recommended everyone increasing their Vitamin D to tackle the virus. Vitamin D can be found in mushrooms, fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines), eggs and Vitamin D fortified foods. Your diet impacts on your physical and mental health and it must be rich in all vitamins and minerals. The overall messages were for people to pay close attention to their lifestyle choices.”

MCTC’s Managing Director, Christian Ioannou, added: “During the pandemic the industry’s priority has been to keep seafarers safe through encouraging social distancing, face masks, promoting exercise and a healthy diet. After COVID-19, the industry needs to remember that the workforce must stay healthy. It is always a balance between fresh food and good nutrition and hitting often tight daily catering budgets. This is something MCTC can advise on.”

MCTC has a full Catering Management Service which works within clients’ budgets to control costs. its Catering Management service covers the vessel’s entire catering management needs such as recipe planning, menu management, health and nutrition, including ordering supplies, which all reduce vessel running costs. Clients who sign up to this service also receive the complimentary Catering Competency Development Programme. This training package is designed to increase standards in the galley by training and supporting catering staff.

MCTC believes that catering crews should have a much deeper level of knowledge to ensure they understand the importance of good nutrition and how to cater for different nationalities and health needs.

“The WHO together with Governments stated that leading a healthy lifestyle was paramount in helping to tackle the virus. Here at MCTC, we believe nutrition needs to stay top of the agenda in the maritime industry. The health of our seafarers is important, and we need to keep building a better and healthier industry,” stressed Mr Ioannou.

Latest News

Fully digital LNG bunkering comes to Singapore

Pavilion Energy and DNV have jointly developed a fit-for-purpose LNG bunker digital solution for employment... Read more

ShipMoney extends crew payment solutions to entire BSM fleet

ShipMoney has expanded its agreement with Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) to include the ship... Read more

SAFEEN strategic agreement to own and operate five bulkers

SAFEEN Feeders has signed a major agreement with Invictus Investment to launch a new international dry... Read more

World Maritime Day message must extend beyond shipping

Never has the theme of this year’s World Maritime Day - ‘New technologies for greener shipping... Read more

ClassNK issues AiP for ammonia bunkering vessel

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an ammonia bunkering vessel (ABV) developed by... Read more

IOMSR strikes four ship deal with MX Bulk

The Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) is expanding its fleet after securing a new deal with fellow Isle... Read more

DNV and SIT to promote decarbonization and digitalization

DNV has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)... Read more

Fleet pledge to reduce environmental footprint of plastic bottles

Fleet Management Limited, part of the Caravel Group and the second-largest ship management company in... Read more

Idwal appoints Haysom new CCO as expansion continues

Idwal has announced that George Haysom has joined the business as chief commercial officer (CCO) to... Read more

Britannia hosts P&I academy for members in London

Previously known as Members’ Training Week, the Britannia P&I Academy provides a week-long... Read more