Health Services News

Mauritius will allow a ship belonging to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings to dock after no trace of cholera was found in samples taken from passengers on board, a senior health official said on Monday.Authorities on the island nation off the coast of east Africa prevented the Norwegian Dawn from docking over the weekend over what they said were "health risks," without elaborating.Samples were taken from around 15 passengers who were experiencing a mild stomach illness.Bhooshun Ori…

The war in the Ukraine is stifling trade and logistics of the country and the Black Sea region, increasing global vessel demand and the cost of shipping around the world, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said. Container shipping and global value chains have been disrupted and many countries have had to look further afield for suppliers of oil, gas and grain.In a report entitled “Maritime trade disrupted: The war in Ukraine and its effects on maritime trade logistics” published on 28 June 28…

South Africa's Durban port has suffered major disruption after days of unrest, and operations have also been badly affected at the Richards Bay port and on a national freight rail line, logistics and freight companies said on Wednesday.The violence erupted last week in KwaZulu-Natal province, where Durban is located, after the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma but it has rapidly escalated in widespread looting and destruction in several other provinces.Durban has one of the busiest shipping terminals on the African continent…

Twelve crew members of a cruise ship that docked at Piraeus port near Athens on Tuesday tested negative for the novel coronavirus in repeat checks by Greek health authorities, the ship's operator TUI Cruises said.The Mein Shiff 6 cruise ship had departed from Heraklion in Crete on Sunday with all 922 passengers having tested negative before boarding.But sample tests on 150 members out of the ship's total crew of 666, conducted at a land lab, detected 12 COVID-19 infections.Sailing off the island of Milos, the cruise liner made its way back to Piraeus, the country's biggest port, with better access to health services and equipped to deal with any emergency.

A cruise ship carrying about 920 passengers was expected to dock at Piraeus port near Athens, after 12 of its crew members tested positive for the coronavirus, an official at Greece's Civil Protection agency said on Monday.The Mein Shiff 6, operated by TUI Cruises, departed from Heraklion in Crete on Sunday with all passengers having tested negative before boarding.But sample tests on 150 crew members out of a total of 666, detected 12 infections. The ship's operators TUI Cruises said six of the 12 had since tested negative."They are all asymptomatic," the civil protection official said.

Italy on Sunday ordered migrants aboard a rescue ship off its coast to be quarantined on another vessel to test them for the coronavirus instead of allowing them to disembark.The Alan Kurdi, run by the German non-governmental group Sea-Eye, is sailing in international waters off the western coast of Sicily.The transport ministry said in a statement those on board will be transferred to another ship, screened by health authorities and quarantined on that ship.This week the government closed ports to charity boats for the entire duration of the national health emergency over the coronavirus…

A new autumn edition of Antwerp XL will now run at Antwerp Expo, September 15th-17th. “Following the news on March 10 that the World Health Organization revised its classification of COVID-19 to global pandemic status and that the Belgian Government consequently recommended all indoor events (over 1,000 people) should be prohibited, we have been forced to cancel the April 2020 edition of Antwerp XL. We are however pleased to announce that a new edition of Antwerp XL will run on September, 15-17 at Antwerp Expo.“While the virus was in containment phase in Belgium and most other European countries and government authorities continued to tell venues and organizers to run events, we remained vigilant whilst open for business.

South Carolina Ports Authority celebrated the dedication of a new headquarters building at the Wando Welch Terminal with its Board of Directors, local leaders, business partners and employees.The Ports Authority, which owns and operates public seaport facilities in Charleston and Georgetown, as well as Inland Ports in Greer, South Carolina and Dillon, South Carolina, said in a press note that the 80,000-square-foot building consolidates approximately 160 employees working from multiple office locations in the Charleston area.Accoding to the press release, the building design features a glass atrium in the lobby extending up all four floors and a terrazzo floor pattern depicting the Charleston Peninsula and waterways.

A national table-top exercise on maritime security concluded in Tegucigalpa, Honduras (28-29 August). The aim of the event was to encourage a multi-agency approach to maritime security and maritime law enforcement issues. The exercise also highlighted the need for an integrated approach to the implementation of SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPSCode. Broader security measures were looked at with a view to strengthening national implementation of the special measures to enhance maritime security. Under the guidance of International Maritime Organization (IMO) consultants, participants reviewed and discussed a number of possible maritime and port security scenarios and identified gaps and opportunities for improvement…

Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific announced Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the recipient of the 2016 Battle "E" award for aircraft carriers home-ported in the Pacific, March 28. The Commander, Naval Air Forces Carrier Battle Efficiency (Battle "E") competition is held annually to recognize the best performing east and west coast aircraft carriers and award them for demonstrating superior performance and readiness. Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific and Rear Adm. Bruce Lindsey, commander, Naval Air Forces, Atlantic, released a joint message announcing and congratulating the winners of the Battle "E" award. "Congratulations to USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Harry S.

Organizers of this summer’s inaugural LA Fleet Week 2016 are in full planning mode for the week-long call of U.S. Navy ships on the LA Waterfront  in the days leading up to and including Labor Day Weekend. Friday September 2, through Monday September 5, big crowds are expected to converge at the Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center for Naval vessel ship tours and a variety of exhibits and activities along the main channel that will bring together the public and more than 1,500 military personnel descending on the nation’s largest trade gateway for the end-of-summer celebration. Fleet Week is a United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard tradition in New York, San Francisco and a number of other port cities.

Firefighting led a stream of topical debate at trade association Interferry’s 40th annual conference in Copenhagen last week – but not before a record 342 delegates came under fire from a leading Green politician claiming that ‘shipping is currently one of the unaddressed areas of air pollution’. Michael Cramer, German chair of the European Parliament’s transport and tourism committee, delivered a stinging opening address demanding that the ferry and shipping sectors become more environmentally sustainable. He said ‘most vessels are like hazardous waste incinerators because they burn heavy fuel oil which should be processed as highly toxic waste but is usually exhaled without sufficient filtering’.

The main dockworkers union in Chile has voted for indefinite strike action at the country’s national ports. A key labor reform act is due to be voted on in Congress sometime over the next few days. In addition, the union is also urging the government to push through better educational reforms. Members of the Port Workers Union of Chile (UPCH) took the step to industrial action in protest at a lack of progress in labour reform talks and to prod the government to do the right thing when a labour rights vote is taken in the Valparaiso congress in a few days. Chilean port workers are demanding modifications to the newly proposed labor legislation including clarification on a clause that would allow the termination of striking workers whom pose an alleged threat to damaging infrastructure…

A Coast Guardsman was convicted and sentenced during a General Court-Martial in New Orleans, Thursday. Petty Officer 2nd Class Leonel Hinojosa, 32, was sentenced to reduction to E-1, confinement for two years, and a Dishonorable Discharge from the United States Coast Guard. While he is in confinement he forfeits the right to his pay and allowances. Hinojosa was convicted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice of two specifications of Article 92 (dereliction of duty), one specification of Article 107 (false official statement), three specifications of Article 120 (abusive sexual contact) and one specification of Article 128 (assault consummated by battery).

An ailing mariner was medevaced from a fishing vessel in Beaver Inlet, approximately 13 miles southeast of Dutch Harbor, Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard reported. The Coast Guard Air Station MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, deployed with the Munro on a Bering Sea patrol, departed Dutch Harbor, safely hoisted the man from fishing vessel Northern Victor, and transported him to Iliuliuk Family and Health Services in Dutch Harbor. Coast Guard Cutter Munro crewmembers, moored in Dutch Harbor, received the request for a medevac from the crew of the Northern Victor via radio. The helicopter crew was on deck at the community’s airport in order to maintain search and rescue capability.

(Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The morning scene is increasingly routine for Kenyans. When it's time to start the day, the power is already out. Somewhere nearby, the shell of a wrecked electrical transformer lies on its side underneath the pole where it had been fixed 20 feet off the ground. The culprit is an unusual one: A vandal who is selling the toxic oil, drawn from the transformer, to chefs who use it for frying food in roadside stalls. Five liters of the viscous, PCB-laden liquid sells for $60. It looks like cooking oil, but lasts much longer, users say. Kenyans' appetite for fried food and cheap frying oil is stalling the country's urgent efforts to build a modern electrical grid, even as it sews the seeds of a public health crisis, experts say.

Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, says it is doing its part to fight obesity and bolster the health of its employees. The shipyard's health-conscious changes have helped it succeed as a Platinum Fit-Friendly Worksite. Fit-Friendly Worksites are recognized by the American Heart Association as employers who go above and beyond when it comes to employee health. These companies offer both nutritional services and physical activities aimed at supporting the employees' health. "We are honored to receive this award," said Edmond E. Hughes, Ingalls' vice president of human resources and administration. "There were only four companies in the state of Mississippi to earn a Platinum status, so we are part of a very selective group in the state.

Effective shoreline clean-up efforts are on-going, Saturday, along Mustang, South Matagorda and North Padre islands in response to the Texas City oil spill. As of sunset Friday, response workers have removed a total of 200,775 pounds of oiled sand and oiled debris from the shorelines of Mustang, North Padre and South Matagorda islands. These figures include 102,700 pounds of oiled material from Mustang Island, 93,550 pounds from South Matagorda and 4,525 pounds from shoreline around Bob Hall pier.

Representatives of the Unified Command responding to a March 22 oil spill will join community leaders in an informational session on Thursday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. The event will take place at Port O’Connor Elementary School, 508 Monroe Avenue. Officials from the United States Coast Guard, Texas General Land Office, Kirby Inland Marine, Texas Parks and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, NOAA, and Texas Department of Health Services will join representatives from Calhoun County government and the Chamber of Commerce in updating the community. “We are pleased to be invited to meet with local residents and business owners and appreciate the opportunity to answer any questions or concerns they may have,” said Incident Commander Randal S. Ogryzdiak. texascityyresponse.com

The Captain of the Port of Houston/Galveston has opened the bay to all traffic Thursday after multiple cleanup assessments and input from the Texas Department of State Health Services. A current Broadcast Notice to Mariners instructs all boaters that the safety zone remains in affect, however all restrictions are lifted except to transit using safe distance and minimum safe speeds in the vicinity of any oil spill response or salvage operations and to avoid all areas of sheening or visible oil. If any oil is sighted, boaters should report it to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802. While all recreational activities, including swimming is open, the DSHS does advise people not to swim in areas where they can see oil.

The Captain of the Port of Houston/Galveston opened the bay to all traffic Thursday after multiple cleanup assessments and input from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Oil is washing up on Matagorda Island. Coast Guard recruit volunteer 'Sentinels. After storms Wednesday afternoon and evening slowed cleanup efforts somewhat in the Ports of Texas City and Galveston because of safety concerns, responders quickly ramped up their operations during the first hours of daylight to resume cleaning contaminated areas, Thursday.

International faith-based organization Mercy Ships has used ships as traveling hospitals since 1978, providing health services to millions of people from the world’s poorest countries. Gathering praise from figures such as Nelson Mandella, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Tony Blair, the organization and its work have had a vast impact globally with more than 2.42 million direct beneficiaries to date and an estimated cumulative work bill near $1 billion. Funded primarily through private donations, Mercy Ships is now operating its fourth vessel, Africa Mercy.

The 'Big Row' is raising funds for the restoration of Africa's oldest motor ship, 'MV Chauncy Maples', as a clinic-ship able to get to villages on Lake Malawi where there are currently no roads and access to health services. The qualified team will deliver primary health services such as prevention and treatment for bilharzia, malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS; child immunisation; reproductive health care and nutritional programmes. The event will feature 100 crews from around the world who will row 1,000,000 metres to raise £1,000,000.