Top priority: a high standard of occupational health and safety

The workplace on board of sea-going ships is a dangerous one even today.  Weather conditions such as heavy seas directly impair the safety of working on board. Cargoes, often including dangerous goods, must be loaded, carried and discharged with care.  Fire on board can quickly have catastrophic consequences and must therefore be prevented at all costs. Injuries inflicted during work on machinery or electrical installations can only be treated by lay-people, as the oceans are out of reach for land based medical emergency services. In short: a high standard of occupational health and safety is an absolute necessity! In this context the German flag state administration offers a wide variety of information and advice to seafarers and shipping companies.