Shifting the Paradigm toward Maritime Human (Health) Security Maritime Training Against Infectious Disease Threats

Abstract

Over the past decade, pioneering research has been conducted in the field of Maritime Human (Health) Security Awareness. The purpose was to gain an understanding of the current preparedness of mariner’s abilities to identify an intentional infectious disease delivery system using maritime modality as a primary means of entry into any global seaport. The goal would be to initiate a pandemic. International maritime trade is built upon certified, licensed mariners being trained in the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) international guidelines. The STCW concepts of preparing mariners for vessel operations, which is a Vessel Centric System (VCS), instead of a Human-Centric System (HCS), that places human needs at the center of education. Personal safety and social responsibility were the focus of this research to determine if HCS training currently exists and if that training is static rather than dynamic. Daniel Stufflebeam's (CIPP) model was the framework for the program evaluation. The maritime industry no longer has the luxury of remaining naive toward Human (health) security due to enhanced DNA manipulation, synthetic biology, lower cost, and easy access to information.  Human (Health) Security Awareness training that would allow them to identify infectious diseases as threats to humans, economies and societal norms.