Design of Large Passenger Ships and Passenger Infrastructure:
Guidance on Meeting the Needs of Disabled People

Section 7
Management and Training

7.1 In providing a transport service, port and ferry operators should review their policies, procedures, services and facilities provided for non-disabled passengers to ensure that they are accessible to elderly and disabled people. All passengers benefit from a more accessible ship or terminal, although disabled people are likely to benefit the most.

7.2 It is regarded as more cost-effective if disability access is included as part of the overall design or operation of a ship or terminal rather than as an afterthought. Meeting the needs of elderly and disabled passengers is both a personal and a corporate responsibility.

7.3 At the personal level, it is not only important to have the ability to recognise disabled passengers and the skill and confidence to assist or communicate with them, but it is also necessary for the ship designer and master of the ferry to have an understanding of how their roles affects elderly and disabled people.

7.4 At the corporate level, the port or ferry operator must ensure that responsibility for meeting the needs of elderly and disabled passengers is accepted at the highest level, and delegated to people with the skills and authority to make changes to the design and operation of the passenger ship or terminal.

7.5 It is a corporate responsibility to ensure that training in disability issues consistent with professional responsibilities is given to all staff. Training is needed on a wide range of disability issues, as no amount of guidance can cover every eventuality or the needs of every disabled person.

7.6 Training in disability issues should be an integral part of the induction and familiarisation process, in both direct service training and professional training courses. Familiarisation of all seafarers with their specific duties and responsibilities is required under STCW 95 (International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers - see Appendix 2). This includes the care of and assistance for elderly and disabled passengers. The content of the various training courses for STCW 95 is still in the planning stage, but does include and require the provision of disability awareness training, and not just for emergency situations.

7.7 Disability awareness training should include: barriers faced by disabled people, covering attitude, environment and organisation principles of access audits suggestions for removing barriers faced by disabled people information on all disabilities, including hidden disabilities enabling staff to deal with unexpected occurrences - to ‘think on their feet’ when a problem arises communication and interpersonal skills for communicating with disabled people, particularly those with a hearing impairment or with learning disabilities.

7.8 Port and ferry operators should commission specific disability awareness training to meet their needs, and should also monitor that the training is suitable for their operation. The training should involve disabled people who understand the needs and problems of other disabled people. This has the further advantage of giving staff contact with disabled people.

7.9 Disability awareness training and disability equality training can be obtained from the following organisations: Royal National Institute for the Blind, Royal National Institute for Deaf People, RADAR, SCOPE, which offer pan-disability training. Other voluntary or commercial training organisations may offer similar training.

Published: 29 November 2000

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