Work Injury at Sea: How to File Documents to Keep Your Insurance Coverage

Hello, colleagues. The topic is serious, but everyone must know about it. Working at sea involves heavy equipment, rough seas, and high temperatures — you can get injured in an instant. What should you do in case of an emergency and how do you protect your rights against the ship owner and their P&I Club insurance?

First rule — file a report immediately. No matter how much the bosun or chief engineer asks you to "not damage the safety record" and report the injury as a personal accident — never agree! Otherwise, the company will wash their hands of you as soon as you're discharged. Any injury is documented in the ship's medical log, the captain prepares an official accident report and sends it to the crewing company and insurance. You have the right to free medical care at the nearest port and paid sick leave according to your contract and MLC 2006.

Keep copies of all medical reports, receipts for medications, and reports — if the injury results in loss of work capacity, your lawyer will need them.

Has anyone dealt with treatment abroad under P&I coverage? Did the company pay up fairly or did you have to go to court?