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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

The Floating Lab: Standard Operational Procedure for Collecting and Filtering Seawater Samples from Operating Ferries for Environmental DNA Analysis

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Occupational risks and challenges of seafaring.

Marcus Oldenburg¹, Xaver Baur, Clara Schlaich

¹Department of Maritime Medicine, Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, Seewartenstrasse, Hamburg, Germany. marsuc.oldenburg@bsg.hamburg.de

Journal of Occupational Health

|July 28, 2010

Summary

Seafaring presents significant occupational health risks, including accidents, cardiovascular diseases, stress, and exposure to hazardous substances. Addressing these hazards is crucial for seafarer well-being and maritime safety.

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Area of Science:

Maritime Health
Occupational Medicine
Public Health

Background:

Seafarers face a wide array of occupational health hazards unique to their work environment.
Despite safety advancements, accidents and health issues persist due to working and living conditions at sea.

Purpose of the Study:

To survey the most significant occupational hazards in seafaring.
To provide recommendations for managing these identified risks.

Main Methods:

Literature review of PubMed articles on occupational risks in seafaring.
Consultation with maritime expert opinions.

Main Results:

Key risks include accidents, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with limited treatment at sea, shipboard stress leading to fatigue and isolation, communicable diseases, hazardous substance exposure, and UV-light exposure.
Inadequate recreational facilities exacerbate health issues.
Non-adherence to safety rules contributes to injuries and fatalities.

Conclusions:

Seafaring remains an occupation with inherent, specific work-related risks.
Reducing occupational hazards aboard ships requires ongoing efforts from maritime health specialists and stakeholders.
Maritime medicine addresses diverse and evolving job-related challenges.