Cayman Maritime Complaints Report 2024

Last November we shared an insight into the 2023 Casualty Summary Report from the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands (MACI). The good news is that the 2024 report was released earlier this year, but before we take a look at that, we’re going to explore their report about seafarer complaints and other welfare issues.

You can find the 2024 report here: 

This report is from the Shipping Master, an officer of MACI whodeals with crew welfare issues covering accommodation, food, repatriation, working hours, payment of medical expenses and assisting with resolution of wage disputes, all falling under the remit of the Merchant Shipping Act. The Shipping Master also manages inquiries into the conduct and fitness of seafarers, plus births and deaths onboard Cayman Islands vessels. 

Cayman Maritime

You might wonder why we’re so interested in seafarer complaints? So let’s look at the big picture… worry about anything onboard a ship can lead to poor mental health, which in turn impacts on physical health. Safety concerns have a direct implication for physical health and the categories of the complaints received cover some of these areas.

For most vessel types, the number of complaints increased from 2023 figures but we question whether that could that be a hangover from recovery after the years of COVID restrictions, a greater willingness to report a complaint, or include other factors? The greatest percentage of complaints per ship type was from commercial yachts with private yachts (voluntary MLC compliance) a close second.

For pay disputes, the biggest category of complaint, it’s clear that having a formal contract can be of benefit to the seafarer. Termination is the second biggest category of complaint and claimed actions such as unfair and wrongful dismissal can be very difficult to prove.

For medical expenses, it can be harder for the Shipping Master to make a decision due to the differences between the rules for commercial and leisure vessels. One positive point noted with regard to repatriation complaints is that the repatriation destination is now (since March 2024) a requirement for the contract under the Merchant Shipping Act.

Bullying and harassment is a hot topic but the Shipping Master reports that if concerns are  raised some time after a termination, they are often difficult to prove. On a positive note, where an allegation is considered to breach Cayman Islands criminal law, MACI can involve the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. This would apply to activity in the Cayman Islands or for Cayman Islands vessels in international waters. 

Safety concerns are difficult to investigate for private vessels who don’t have to comply with SOLAS or the Large Yacht Code. But as for bullying and harassment complaints, local authorities and law enforcement agencies can be involved if needed and this has happened in a number of cases. 

An interesting point noted is the low number of complaints in relation to hours of rest. Anecdotally, particularly during the busy yachting seasons, this is seen as a significant issue, but that isn’t reflected in this report.

The report details some fascinating examples and case studies and it’s generally perceived that the relatively high number of complaints is partly due to the fact that complaints to MACI do get heard and the seafarers do have options. This can only be seen as a positive point.

Likewise, since March 2024, the requirement for all workers to have a signed contract, regardless of the registration status, is broadly being enforced.

All of these categories of complaint cover topics that can have a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of crew, and as an industry we should continually strive to improve.

Training onboard, and training above and beyond the basic STCW and other requirements can make a huge difference to a crew, helping to avoid the risk of some of these reported complaints. 

If you’re interested in finding out more about what Red Square Medical can offer in relation to medical and mental health training, please just get in touch. Or if you’d like some creative drills to improve your medical response and get the crew working as a team, to run and assess yourselves, please just get in touch.