Global Healthcare specialist VIKAND and key maritime stakeholders have launched the Seafarers’ Human Sustainability Declaration during the U.S. Coast Guard AMVER awards ceremony at the US Ambassador’s Residence in Oslo, during Nor-Shipping.

This Declaration aims to recognise and improve how the global maritime community meets the human sustainability needs of seafarers both today and into the future.

During his speech to launch the Declaration VIKAND’s CEO Peter Hult said, “Our goal is to develop a global platform for sustainable seafaring to ensure the future commercial viability of the maritime industry.  We want to encourage dialogue around the principles of seafarer wellbeing so that the maritime industry can develop and adopt best practices for those working at sea and their loved ones back home. We need to develop a sustainable seafaring community to future proof the maritime sector.”

The Seafarers’ Human Sustainability Declaration has the support of key maritime businesses including Inmarsat, ABS, AON, Fraser, FrontM, Global Maritime Forum, MHG, Psy-Fyi, Scoutbase, ShipMoney, Simwave and Thetius.

The ultimate aim of the declaration is to kick-start discussions in the maritime industry and make seafarer human sustainability a priority for the whole of the shipping industry.

“Only by working together as maritime colleagues can we start to make long-lasting improvements to the overall welfare and well-being of our seafarers which in turn will safeguard the future viability of the shipping industry,” Hult continued.

For its part VIKAND wants to establish a ‘culture of care’ onboard by providing a proactive healthcare approach which improves seafarer quality of life, reduces significant medical claims and deaths, resulting in decreased major medical claims and ship diversions.

“Aon is pleased to support the Seafarers’ Human Sustainability Declaration and the resulting increase in dialogue around building a more sustainable workforce. Aside from the obvious benefits to seafarers and their families, there has long been a link between human behaviour and incident occurrence so if we can collectively work to improve seafarer health and wellbeing, this should have a really positive impact on risk,” said Chris Bhatt, Chief Commercial Officer, AON.