Merchant Marine trains 16 new inspectors in occupational risk prevention

The aim is to provide them with specialized training in a range of areas, including firefighting, the use of self-contained breathing apparatus, and access to confined spaces, among others, in order to prevent risks during their inspections of ships.

The Directorate General of the Merchant Marine, under the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, has held a training course this week at the Jovellanos National Maritime Safety Training Centre on Occupational Risk Prevention, aimed at newly appointed maritime safety inspectors from both the Special Civil Marine Technical Corps and the Naval Engineers Corps.

A total of eight mariners and eight naval engineers, together with four investigators from the new AITAT (Independent Administrative Authority for the Technical Investigation of Railway, Maritime and Civil Aviation Accidents and Incidents), have received the training. The course included a theoretical component covering risks associated with electrical, pressure and hydraulic equipment; risks involved in inspecting fishing vessels, chemical tankers, oil tankers, bulk carriers and livestock carriers; abandoned vessels; inspections abroad; psychosocial risk assessment; and conflict resolution. The practical component covered a wide range of subjects, including the use and handling of gas detectors, self-contained breathing apparatus, and first-aid training.

The training was complemented by practical exercises in real-life scenarios, including accessing ships using pilot ladders, firefighting in buildings and on board vessels using fire extinguishers and fire hydrants, and rescue operations in confined spaces.

The objective of the course is to ensure that the new inspectors of the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine can carry out their duties under the safest possible conditions while avoiding any risks associated with the day-to-day performance of their work.