With the ultimate objective of protecting Human Life and the Environment and of assuring the highest standards of Safety at sea, the Company has established a “Zero Tolerance Policy” with respect to Consumption, Possession, Distribution or Sale of drugs & alcohol on board the vessels.
This Policy and the implementation details that are described below guaranty that:
• No seafarer will navigate a ship or operate its onboard equipment while impaired by substances;
• All seafarers must be able to respond at any time in an emergency situation using their best capabilities and unobstructed judgment.
The Master is responsible for the implementation of the drug & alcohol policy onboard his ship. The company shall provide him with the equipment and the necessary guidance to administer alcohol tests for all employees, officers and ratings, as well as all the necessary support to implement the disciplinary action. These regulating policies apply to all Company personnel during their employment period whether onboard or ashore.
Pilots, office personnel, guests, contractors, vendors and any other person onboard shall be required to comply with the policy concerning use, possession, distribution and sale of alcohol and drugs and provisions regarding searches. Those who violate the policy shall be sent away from the vessel and may be denied future access.
A. Alcohol Regulating Policy
"Zero Tolerance” applies to all alcoholic beverages, including beer. This means that drinks containing alcohol are not permitted on board Company vessels and may not be consumed by any officer or unlicensed rating, regardless of whether the vessel is underway or in port whether watch keepers or not. The possession, use, distribution or sale of alcohols on board by seafarers is strictly prohibited and is grounds for immediate dismissal. If the alcohol content of any seafarer (including the master) after properly tested is found to exceed the company set limit, he will be dismissed without compensation and his name and rank must be immediately reported to the DPA and crew manager ashore.
Alcohol Tests:
a. Pre-Joining alcohol test:
Performed in an official shore based laboratory by the Company. Each person’s blood & urine samples shall be tested as chain procedures and certified accordingly.
b. Unannounced alcohol tests from shore:
Unannounced alcohol tests by a qualified external contractor following chain procedures, at least once (1) per year by the company. The company makes decision when or where it will be carried out. This test shall be carried out for all crew onboard. If the result of alcohol test or refusal to submit to the alcohol test is positive the crewmember will be dismissed without compensation. Immediately master must report his name and rank to the DPA and crew manager ashore. The seafarer is subject to disciplinary action up to dismissal.
c. On Board Random alcohol testing:
Performed randomly and unannounced on board by the Master or safety officer by the master’s decision but all crewmembers including the Master must be tested at least once (1) per month. It is not necessary to perform the test to all crewmember at the same time, but all crewmember should be tested in one month. This test is in master’s responsibility and it is his choice where, when and who will the involved to these tests. For example before departure from a port, before arriving a port, before the duty officer’s taking over or before cargo operations or on the voyage.
d. Reasonable cause alcohol test:
Performed when there is reasonable belief that violation of this Policy or when a strong suspicion exists of use of alcohol in violation of this policy has taken place by the master’s instruction.
e. Post-accident test:
Performed after an accident on those who were directly involved.
B. Drug Regulating Policy
”Zero Tolerance” includes that the Drugs & Drug substances. Any use of a prescribed controlled drug which causes, or contributes to unacceptable job performance or unusual behavior should require the seafarer to be excused from duty until such times as he is repatriated. Officers and crew when embarking must declare to the master any kind of prescribed pharmaceutical drug that they are using and/or are carrying with them. Monitoring of supply and distribution of controlled pharmaceuticals will be carried out by the company during ship’s medical request.
Drug tests:
a. Pre-Joining drug test:
This test is performed together with pre-joining alcohol test by the company and same procedures, that is explained in alcohol test item “a” will be followed.
b. Unannounced drug tests from shore:
This test is performed together with unannounced alcohol tests from shore by the company and same procedures, that is explained in alcohol test item “b” will be followed.
C. Drug & Alcohol Test Procedure
The test explained in this policy, will be performed on time. Shore based tests are alcohol & drug tests, which shall be carried out together and records will be kept company and onboard. Analysis results are forwarded to the vessel by the external contractor. Copy is sent to the Company for evaluation and record keeping. Details of the tests are kept in the related file. Onboard test records are kept related file and the copy will be sent to company. Record forms are kept under the master's responsibility, where the date, time, name of the seafarer, test readings and name and signature of the test responsible are recorded, every time an alcohol test is carried out.
• The on board test is to be carried out by using the Breath Analyzer.
• Unless there is reason for blood testing, the drug test is carried out by analysis of the personnel's urine.
• The responsible person who will make alcohol test and the witness must be alone in a separate area from all other personnel with the person to be tested.
• If the result of alcohol test is positive the test be must repeated under the supervision of a witness who must be an authorized officer.
• The person to be tested for alcohol has to right to choose his own witness.
D. Company's Instructions
• As a company policy, the necessary documentation like circulars, and posters, which are prepared for warning the personnel, are regularly sent to the vessel.
• Posters listing the effects of drug use and alcohol abuse are hung up at various points within the ship's living quarters.
• All employees on board shall comply with this policy at all times. This policy is to be displayed in prominent locations on board the ships.
• Company representatives should regularly check that the company alcohol & drug policy is properly being implemented and update records are kept onboard.
• The blood test is to be carried out immediately if any person is exposed toxic chemicals. In case of crew member exposure to toxic chemicals, the master is responsible to inform company immediately to arrange necessary service.
E. After Disembarkation Blood Test
Company will schedule crew to sent to contracted laboratory after disembarkation in order to analyses the blood against the frequent carried cargoes (such as toluene, ethylene glycol, ethanol, methanol, benzene, acetone, isopropanol, volatile screen, ether group, hydrocarbons, nitrile group, monomer group ..etc) that may absorbed by body / blood. A copy of analyses results will be sent to office and accordingly to captioned subject crew. For this process on board stay time, attendance and disembarkation time, age and rank on board will be considered.