Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies

Burden, Need, and Impact

The Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies (CMSHS) promotes safety and health for all maritime workers, including those employed on vessels, at waterfront facilities working in and around vessels, and on shore directly supporting marine operations. Each of these unique work environments pose different challenges to ensuring worker safety and health. Some of these challenges are seen dockside at shipyards and marine terminals, while other hazards are unique to vessels operating in commercial fishing, freight transportation, and passenger service. Workers in marine industries are at higher risk for work-related fatalities, injuries, and illness. The CMSHS has identified seven maritime industries as research priority areas: commercial fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing, shipyards, marine transportation, marine terminals and port operations, and commercial diving.