The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) today announces that it has recognised the Seafarer Mental Health Awareness and Wellbeing course offered by Isca Wellbeing as complying with the requirements set out by The BMA. The course, which is non-STCW or other convention-related, is the first seafarer mental health training recognised by The BMA.

The training, which is based on the Maritime Charities Group (MCG) Mental Health Awareness & Wellbeing Training Standard, has been designed specifically for seafarers to help them to understand the different types of mental health disorders and their causes. It enables participants to recognise changes in behaviour in themselves and in others and gives guidance as to how to respond to these changes and where to find assistance and support. Finally, the course demonstrates the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ – a pathway that will help seafarers to promote their own mental wellbeing.



Capt Jerry Mooney, Technical & Compliance Officer in The BMA’s Seafarers & Manning Department.
Both seafarers and shore-based personnel are already feeling the benefits from participation in the course with feedback showing that 100% of delegates now have the knowledge to recognise signs of poor mental health in themselves and others, and that they now know how to respond if a colleague or seafarer is facing a mental health crisis.

The BMA has long taken a proactive stance on the wellbeing of seafarers, it has launched the Seafarer COVID-19 Welfare Survey, responses from which are still being received, and so was eager to give recognition to a training course which would be of benefit to seafarers worldwide, not just those flagged with The BMA but also the wider industry. Although not a requirement of The BMA, the flag is pleased to be able to bring it to the attention of crews and their owners.

Capt Jerry Mooney, Technical & Compliance Officer in The BMA’s Seafarers & Manning Department, said: “It made perfect sense for The BMA to consider Isca Wellbeing’s approach regarding course recognition. As can be seen with our Mental Health Survey (run in collaboration with researchers at the University of Washington) we are already leading ship registries in promoting the importance of Seafarer’s Mental Health. Now, with our recognition of Isca Wellbeing’s Mental Health Training, we can also show that we are intent on doing something about it. Seafarers are the life blood of the world’s trade and we must ensure they are cared for.”



John Burden, Managing Director of Isca Wellbeing.
COVID-19 has undoubtedly exacerbated the mental health challenges for seafarers who, even prior to the pandemic, were already showing the effects of long periods away from loved ones, isolation, trouble sleeping, rough seas, quality of food, cultural differences onboard and job insecurity. The development of a course to help address these issues could not come too soon.

John Burden, Managing Director of Isca Wellbeing said: “There are some very good services that respond to seafarers who are in need, but we wanted to offer a more proactive approach and have pulled together a highly qualified team to create the Seafarer Mental Health Awareness and Wellbeing course. Everyone involved has a connection to maritime and understands the unique challenges of life at sea – our operational team also run a crewing agency, and our mental health trainers have a personal connection to this industry that we love.

“We approached The BMA with the course as we had identified The Bahamas as a flag with a particular interest in the mental health and wellbeing of its crew and as an authority which shares our ethos. The 2-day course, which is delivered either via Zoom or in person, complements our existing service in which we provide weekly mental health training and support videos to over 15,000 seafarers. We are delighted that The BMA has recognised the course and look forward to starting to work with its crews, educating them on mental health and how to look after their wellbeing, whether at sea or on dry land.”

That's the way Garth, a bit of contact, a polite enquiry and the battle's won. Happy sailing.

Cheers, Nerys

Huzzah!! Hot dog!! Yeehah!
I’m glad for y’all, stoked that the powers that be are helping you out.

Hurray! 👍😎

I jumped the gun to fast our club representative spoke to the Leander club an we are pleasantly surprised with their response so quickly please see e-mail

Did you try contacting them?
leander.exec@gmail.com.

Y’all have any other place to run? Maybe a public park?

Just a little note from Hamilton Ontario went to the Hamilton bay to try out a model and some members where standing around ask if it was do to area now has some green algae and there was some BUT some Leander club representatives have now posted PRIVATE DOCK No Trespassing After using the dock for some time due to the pandemic I guess we have upset someone so no more sailing in Hamilton Bay . It seem that some Hamiltonians just don't like model boats and this is why the Hobby is on the decline I guess .I think we will try to get permission but I highly doubt they will change this restriction on that property . Was fun while it lasted .

Hi Marky!! Glad you’re doing better. Keep up the fight sir.
Cash

Hi Nerys ,hope your keeping well ,yes I noticed the Prince of Wales had closed down along with a few others that the Good lady and I have used in the past ,its a shame they were Good affordable accommodation.
Even though the restrictions have been eased here in Scotland I'm still very much shielding just can't take any chances .

Stay safe Cheers Mark
.

Good to have you back Mark,I have been wondering how you have been getting on with that nasty C thing hanging over you. Even more so when I drove past a certain hotel in Berkeley a little while ago and found that it is all closed down, looking very bedraggled, car park barriered off. Obviously a victim of the other C. Glad you enjoyed your trip to your sons and new granddaughter, must have given you a welcome lift. Stay safe, and please keep in touch with us all.

Best wishes, Nerys

Well shipmate that visit was worth more than medication alone could give you.
I bet you're still smiling after meeting the newest member of the clan.
Stay safe and keep as well as you can, cheers Colin.

Thanks Colin , After nearly a couple of months in and out of hospital ,the visit up to my sons did me the world of good also got to see my new granddaughter for the First time ,my wife had been up just after she was born but I wasn't allowed to go and no one was allowed into the hospital due to my immune system being really low ,a couple of jags in my stomach each day for the duration sorted that out.

Nice to have you back Marky. Hope you're feeling better now you've had a break.
Cheers Colin.

Hi all , just checking in its been a rough couple of months but things are starting to look positive on the the big C front , just back from a couple of weeks R&R up at my sons in extremely sunny Aberdeenshire not that I'm allowed out in the sun .hope everyone's keeping fine ,will plow through what I've missed .
Its good to be back .
Stay safe Cheers Marky

I read the morning paper every day & there was a article today about Boris . I just thought you all in England might want to read it .I promise that I'll only respond one time to the worlds situation which is so messed up !

We are only at 12.8% fully vaccinated here with 1.55m doses given (only 628k fully) We have a population of around 5m, so we are somewhere between India and Brazil. Not that brilliant really, but no-one has died since the middle of last year (the ones that died were mostly rest homers with some medical conditions). No-one's in hospital as far as I am aware, even though a number have tested positive, and we seem to be letting known positive people in every day, ( just had a bunch of sick fisherman from a big trawler in, plus another one a while back).

Our travel to Aust has been put on hold due to their new outbreak, and a number of Kiwis are stuck over there yet again. On the bright side, we can still go to the Cook Islands/Rarotonga. I was looking at some cases on YT of reactions to some of the vaccines in the US, and there have been a number of rather nasty ones,-partial paralysis, constant headaches, painful burning tingling hands etc within a day or so of having a jab.

Makes you think, if you see 10 cases on YT, how many other cases don't you hear about? Reminds me of what a pest control guy said to me years ago, when we had a rat problem in a timber yard I worked in. He said, "if you see one rat, there will be another 20 or more nearby", and he was later proved correct when we dug up an old drain.



They can't stop the common cold, so how did they come up with this vaccine in 1 year ( think about how much money the drug companies are making out of all this, for something which is not even 100% effective.) The (eg) 50k + deaths a year in the US from the flu, seem to have been forgotten about with this new virus.

Approx figures-

Covid deaths in 2020 (US) 625k 29,400,000 recovered out of around 35,082m cases,
Flu deaths 2020 (US) 24k-62k cases 39m- 56m

Considering the flu has been around for centuries and has probably killed many millions of people up till now, this new virus is probably like the flu was to us perhaps in medieval times. We've had the Black Plague, Measles, Chicken Pox, Ebola, Spanish flu and a dozen other things trying to kill us, but we've survived all those to still be here destroying the earth. perhaps someone's trying to tell us something😀

A small piece from the statistics on US flu which I found relevant (regarding reporting) -might be the same with covid? (even though it's reportable)

What does the cumulative burden of influenza for the 2019-2020 season mean?
The cumulative burden of influenza is an estimate of the number of people who have been sick, seen a healthcare provider, been hospitalized, or died as a result of influenza since October 01, 2018. CDC does not know the exact number of people who have been sick and affected by influenza because influenza is not a reportable disease in most areas of the United States. However, these numbers are estimated using a mathematical model, based on observed rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations.

JB

Welcome to reality - last we heard about 3% of the population here is vaccinated. Started with care workers then 70 - now asking 60s to register - Some 70 have not yet received their shots.

The rest of Africa is probably worse as the poorer countries cant afford the vaccines - even SA which is better off is finding it difficult to obtain them. Unlike Europe and the US

Be grateful most of you live in the First World

We, Catharine and Ron, fully agree with you. Masks are going to be with us for sometime yet. I do not understand those who still view this pandemic is a hoax, are anti vaccination and anti- mask.

Both my mother-in-law and a niece have little to no smell or taste as a long term effect of the illness. Mom said rhubarb is about the only food she can taste, and good chocolate!

Hope the golf game is good Rick, we are off this morning for our mixed league.

Smooth sailing everyone, time to putt along. 😊

We in Canada are reaching 80% single vaccines and 50% second doses. Nancy and I will be wearing masks going into shops and dinning. For me we may be nearing a safe return to some or a new form of the past. But until the rest of the world gets vaccinated or vaccines none of us are really safe. Please keep yourself safe and that keeps others safe.
Rick

Ladies and Gents.
I concur, still very difficult and turbulent times with many ....dare I say idiots(to put it mildly and far too politely) throwing away their masks.
It will go ting tong again if we are not careful.
I well remember my Mum telling me as a lad in the 50’s that she back then still knew of some of her friends who still carried their gas mask despite the fact that the war had ended some 10 years previously.😂😂.
Take care all and stay safe.
Regards Bill ⛄

Not getting rid of my mask till it's safe to do so. I have enough health problems to deal with, without risking Covid of any variety.
Stay safe guys and gals, cheers Colin.

Its only being sensible Stephen - the bug is still out there - sister in the UK is still using a mask as are most of her friends. Most youngsters recover quickly from it - its the oldies that are much more at risk - as most of us boat modellers seem to be.

She has had the two doses - which should not really be called a vaccine as you can still get Covid - it only reduces the severity of it. True vaccines prevent the disease altogether as with Polio & Smallpox. Problem is with viruses is that they mutate so fast - much faster than any vaccine can be developed and tested - as can be seen by the fact there is already a delta variant here in SA making 4 altogether that we know of so far. Fortunately the Medical Council has passed a drug usually used for animal parasites which whilst not being a cure alleviates a lot of the symptoms - including breathing problems. Helped in a lot of cases - several elderly friends have greatly benefited from it.

I have to say I've been fairly surprised to see a lot of people still voluntarily wearing masks in shops. I was fearing there would be a sudden shift to everyone not wearing any on 'freedom day'. Obviously there are some (usually the younger population who don't care), but many people do appear to still be being cautious. Perhaps that will dwindle, lets see!

Stephen

Martin is most correct. Whether there in England, across the Pond here, Asia, or for that matter the entire world, This "disease" is not going away until everyone possible is and remains vaccinated. We did it with Polio, and many other disease that decimated the humans of this little blue marble. Until we do it again, I am afraid that people will continue to contract it and many will die, whether they believe in vaccines or not.
I don't know where it came from, but "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" could not be more appropriate. Be safe and boat another day.

Hi Guys,
As you know Yesterday (19/07/21) was so called 'Freedom Day' here in England, And Covid restrictions have been lifted.
As i don't wish to get in to rights and wrongs of this subject all i want to say Please be very careful as this horrible disease is still spreading.
Cases of new infections and Hospitalisations are on the rise and expected to continue to do so.

So again please be carful and stay safe.

Martin555.

Yes, Red, it's very sad, particularly to small businesses. As I drive around my immediate area, there are quite a few small shops and other businesses that have not reopened after the Lockdown and I don't suppose they ever will now. It's sad, our high streets were in a bad enough way even before Covid, empty shops, growing in number all the time, if nothing else think of the numbers of unemployed it has been creating as well as loss of amenity.

Nerys

Sad what the lockdowns have done to a lot of businesses Nerys - We have further problems out here largely caused by this pandemic.

No Nerys,
You are just on the wrong side of the pond.....😁
Sorry... I could not resist.

Nerys maybe you could change it to Welsh.
Cheers Colin.

Thank Mr Google for that Nerys😐 but you can always fight back by adding English corrections to spellcheck😁

JB

Alice was installing a computer in the camper this afternoon. At one stage she had to say what language she required. A list came up on screen. There against English was the Stars and Stripes. Have we now even lost our language identity.?

Nerys

Hi Marky, haven't seen much from you recently, do hope you are coming on alright. Thought you may like to know that we passed our 'mutual' hotel in Gloucestershire this afternoon and it is all closed down, carpark barriered and everything looking very sorry for itself. Lockdown victim I guess.

All the best, Nerys

We had a great two days at Niagara Falls, biked 10km on the paved bike paths along the bluffs, played games at night in the hotel, and enjoyed time with our two older grandsons.

Since this is a model boat website, we saw this vessel going through lock 3 on the Welland Canal. It is the largest vessel allowed to sail through the canal, said Chief Engineer, Shaun Vary, who sent me the following information. The Algoma Harvest, built in 2014, by Nantong Mingde Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. Nantong City, China. She is 740’ LOA, 78’ beam, with a molded depth of 48’-3”. Her max cargo capacity is 39,400 tons, and is powered by a 5 cylinder Wartsila Diesel, 11,863bhp. Single screw with a 4 blade controllable pitch propeller or (A - 4 Wheeler) 👍

We've just come from Tesco, they took cash for our weekly shop.

Nerys

"A lot of places are only taking credit card payments now because of the risk of passing on Covid on the cash."
Martin,
That must be to avoid potential money laundering charges....😂😂😂

Hi Nerys,
A lot of places are only taking credit card payments now because of the risk of passing on Covid on the cash.

Martin555.

I like the idea of paying $800 in pennies, Years ago, I thought I would annoy the clerks in the Council Offices if I paid them £120 in £1 coins for my monthly council tax, but it backfired on me when they thanked me effusively because they were just about to send out to the bank for some £1 as change.

Nerys

Wow,being from across the Pond, I can only relate what we are allowed. US currency can not be denied for any payment. Recently a fellow paid his child support, $800, in pennies, which he dumped on his ex's lawn. Classy, no, but legal, yes. I remeber when I was young, my brother lost a bet to my father, which he paid in pennies. he thought he was being snarky, but my father loved it because he always needed pennies for parking meters in town. Rather backfired upon my brother.
Here shops often try to require a minimum purchase amount to use a debit or charge card. Illegal, at least in Maine. If I find myself in a snarky shop, I'll try to buy a candy bar. Needless to say, I have caused some havoc.
I guess it boils down to whether the Pound is really legal tender for all debits, ect. Good question for your Treasury.
Good Luck😀

The reason I asked this was because we tried to use cash the other night in McDonalds drive thru, but they would only accept cards and it got me thinking. Seems ridiculous using a card for such a small purchase. Mind you, I remember many years ago.waiting at the Dartford Tunnel Toll whilst somebody wrote a cheque for the toll which was probably still £1.
Alice and I are thinking of going on a campaign everywhere feasible of trying to use cash, wonder how we will get on?

Cheers, Nerys

Sorry Martin, you would have to stretch them.
Cheers Colin.

Are they in A4 size Colin.

Martin555.

Martin you would really like the notes!!!
They are all plastic, washable.
Cheers Colin.

Wonderful questions Nerys. Must be well over a year for me.
Rick

That is a good question Nerys,
Since i have retired i have rarely used cash.
In fact it is that fear that someone could give me some foreign currency and i would not know if it is right.

It seems that even U.K. currency has different pictures on the same value coin.

Martin555.

When did you last use cash to buy something?

Nerys

Last time I went to the Falls I stayed at the Marriott. Fantastic views of the falls even in the bath, if that tickled ones fancy. 😃

Hi Ron Good to hear your fully vaccinated .Your grandsons will enjoy the Falls.
Rick

In Ontario, restrictions are slowly being lifted. Both wife and me have our second vaccines, with efficacy by June 29. We have booked a night in Niagara Falls in early July, but we are taking our two oldest grandsons too. They have never been to the Falls so we booked a suite with falls view making it extra special. We are taking bikes for all us to get around which should be grand! Great bike trails along the river down there. Pictures to follow after our trip.

Enjoy your time in Jersey Bill.
It is good that things are slowly getting back to some sort of normal.

Stay safe.

Martin555.