The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, accompanied by the Government delegate in Cantabria, Eugenia Gómez de Diego, has participated in a maritime rescue simulation at the Juan de la Cosa hospital ship of the Social Institute of the Navy (ISM), an agency dependent on the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration.
The minister and the delegate have had the opportunity to know the facilities and crew of the hospital ship, which provides assistance to the Spanish fishing fleet that fishes in the northern fishing grounds. “Our hospital ships are a unique example in the world of healthcare for seafarers. They have received international recognition and from the fishermen themselves, which is the most important thing. They are a source of pride,” said Saiz.
The Juan de la Cosa and Esperanza del Mar vessels are vessels of the Social Institute of the Navy that provide health care ‘in situ’ to seafarers who need it and request it, within a wide area of coverage and in areas where Spanish fishing vessels fish. Specifically, the Esperanza del Mar is deployed in Canario-African territory and the Juan de la Cosa in the North Atlantic and Azores.
They are unique in Europe and, in particular, the Esperanza del Mar, is the largest hospital ship in the world.
Endowment and equipment
They have a modern medical-sanitary endowment and have equipped operating rooms, as well as a hospitalization area if necessary. In addition, when gravity requires it, they have the precise means to evacuate patients to the ground as quickly as possible.
On the other hand, they provide outpatient and radio consultations and act in close collaboration with the ISM Radio-Medical Center and the National Maritime Rescue Coordination Center.
Specifically, the Juan de la Cosa, which is based in Santander, has capacity for 30 crew members and up to 20 patients. It has an operating room, X-ray room and special rooms for infectious diseases.
Both ISM vessels are a guarantee of safety for the crews of the ships that sail in their area of coverage and, therefore, their work has been recognized by the Fishermen’s Confraternities that have awarded them distinctions and awards. In particular, the Juan de la Cosa, received in September the distinction of honor "Faro del Pescador" by the Virgin Brotherhood of the Port of Santoña to the ship "Juan de la Cosa".
International prestige
These vessels also enjoy international prestige and are a world reference. In this sense, the Social Institute of the Navy was present, last November, at the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work held in Sydney, which chose as official poster of the Congress the one presented by the ISM with the legend: “The protection of those who work at sea.” The poster, selected from more than 1,100 candidacies, gave visibility to the work carried out by the managing body of the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and, above all, to the work carried out by both Spanish health vessels.