The Regional Maritime University (RMU), in partnership with the Institute of Applied Research (IAR), has secured a prestigious research grant from Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s Global Safety Evidence Centre. This achievement reflects RMU’s strong track record, technical expertise, and longstanding commitment to advancing maritime education, research, and innovation.
The grant will support a research project titled “Safe Work: A Pathway to Sustainable Blue Economy Development,” which aims to enhance occupational health and safety within the maritime industry.
This award marks another significant milestone in RMU’s efforts to strengthen maritime research, promote safer working conditions at sea, and contribute to the sustainable development of Africa’s blue economy.
The project is being led by Dr Amy Pascalia Abra Asimah as Principal Investigator, with Dr Paul Boadu of the Institute of Applied Research (IAR) serving as Co‑Principal Investigator.
The maritime sector plays a critical role in the global economy through shipping, fisheries, and offshore energy operations. However, it remains one of the world’s most hazardous industries, recording high rates of accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Despite numerous global interventions to improve the safety and wellbeing of seafarers, existing studies often provide only fragmented evidence on their effectiveness.
The RMU‑led project seeks to address this gap through a comprehensive mixed‑methods systematic review of interventions designed to promote occupational health and safety among seafarers. The study will synthesise existing evidence and assess the effectiveness of implemented measures, ultimately contributing to the development of a practical guide to support the adoption of proven safety interventions across the maritime sector.
According to the project team, the initiative will help build a safer maritime industry and support sustainable blue economy development by providing robust evidence and actionable recommendations for policymakers, regulators, industry actors, and maritime professionals.
RMU has expressed gratitude to its key stakeholders and collaborators for their support in securing the grant and looks forward to a collaborative implementation of the project. Key partners include Ocean Centre Ghana, the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), the Fisheries Commission of Ghana, the Ghana Merchant Navy Officers’ Association (GMNOA), the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), and the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council.
Lloyd’s Register Foundation is an independent global charity that supports research, innovation, and education that make the world a safer place. Its mission is to use the best available evidence and insight to help the global community address the world’s most pressing safety and risk challenges. Their Global Safety Evidence Centre is a hub for anyone who needs to know ‘what works’; collating creating and communicating the best available safety evidence from the Foundation, their partners and other sources of expertise.