Combined Maritime Services are the local representatives of ELSSI providing Drug and Alcohol testing of crew on board ships and other marine vessels.

The ELSSI Program is being used in all Industries: Shipping, Aviation, Petroleum sector, Mass transportation, Insurance companies and Factories.

ELSSI provides a Total Quality Substance Abuse Management Program offering integrity and legal defensibility.

Drug & alcohol abuse brings with it not just the risk of accidents; it causes decreased productivity, impaired judgment, absenteeism, personal injury and crime to support the cost of addiction.

Drug abuse is a nightmare to our society. Testing is a strong deterrent. It is a statistical fact that it prevents Drug Abuse.

Testing is the only objective means of positively identifying Drug abuse, thereby protecting:
– Persons that may be under medical treatment, by avoiding falsely accusing them of drug abuse.
– Employers and their investment.
– To assist Drug Abusers in seeking medical treatment.

Sea disasters have forced a series of actions to be taken by National – International Organizations and Governments to reduce the incidence of marine accidents:

–        OPA 90 (Oil Pollution Act, sections 4101-4106) requires D&A testing and is enforced by the  U.S. Coast Guard.
–        OCIMF, guidelines by the Oil Majors, require D&A testing and also for any Charterers requiremets
–        Shipping Organizations, such as Intertanko, BIMCO are implementing D&A Polices.
–        In U.S.A. about 90% of all U.S. companies and all Government agencies have implemented D&A Policies enforced by testing.

The ISM code, article 6.2 requires that each ship is manned with qualified, certificated and medically fit seafarers, in accordance with national and international requirements. – It is evident that a seafarer under the influence of a drug is not medically fit.

Maritime diligence and safety have become a top priority with emphasis placed on the human element. The mariner is therefore called upon, not only to protect himself, but also his livelihood, the ship.

Over 80% of marine accidents are caused by human error.

Legally defensible testing for drugs and alcohol.

• Chain of custody (COC) procedure to safeguard the integrity of the sample.

• An effective two stage analytical procedure for drug abuse detection combined with Medical Review Officer (MRO) Service to ensure that suspected drug is identified properly and conversely, that no one will be falsely accused of drug abuse. This is an absolute necessity, in order to protect both the employee and the interests of the employer.

• A sensitive, drug-class selective method (EMIT – Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique), is used as the initial screening process.

• A highly specific technique for fingerprinting the drug, GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) for confirmation of the positive results from the EMIT scanning process. The GC/MS confirmation is referred to as the Gold Standard. It is the only method accepted by the courts and the forensic experts internationally. It absolutely identifies the drug.

• It is imperative to state, that both analytical methods, the screening and verification must be done in – house (same lab) in order to maintain the chain of Custody Procedure. In addition (the analyst) must have at least 10 years forensic analytical experience, to qualify as an operative for drug analysis. Medical Review Officer (MRO) Services: positive results are reviewed by a specially licensed physician for final drug diagnosis, the MRO.

• Samples tested positive are stored for one year for litigation purposes.

When to Test?

  • Pre-Employment: Test prospective employees prior to hiring.
  • Unannounced: Without informing anyone of the pending testing.
  • Post accident: After an accident.
  • Random: Choosing at random a number of people to be tested.
  • Due Cause: When there is a reasonable suspicion to do so.

Who to Test?

  • The entire crew.
  • According to the safe manning document.
  • All ship’s officers plus 2-3 crewmembers randomly selected.

The following members should also be tested in general:

  • All persons that hold sensitive positions and that operate machinery.
  • Persons who are responsible for handling fuels and lubricants.
    Petroleum spills cause sea pollution..

Collection Sites – Countries

  • ELSSI currently has 500 worldwide collection sites in 42 countries
  • ELSSI has the capability to set up new collection sites to meet the requirements of your Ships trading patterns

The ELSSI Advantages.

  • The most cost effective, highest quality drug testing program services available worldwide.
  • Highest accreditation internationally: Substance Abuse of Mental and Health Services Association (S.A.M.H.S.A.) approved Laboratories in U.S.A.
  • Very Competitive Prices. We “monitor” your testing needs and choose “economics ports”. The savings realized from collection and courier costs are shared with our clients.
  • ELSSI Services are offered internationally in 500 ports.
  • Collectors are doctors/nurses or trained marine surveyors.
  • Legal services and expert testimony.
  • Minimum administration for clients.
  • Sampling kits are available to meet emergencies and U.S. Coast Guard requirements.

Our highly qualified physicians include specialists in medical toxicology, pharmacology, substance abuse, addiction, medicine and rehabilitation.

Our technical resources include a sophisticated data management system, which ensures both speed and accuracy in test evaluations.

ELSSI’S stringent quality control mechanisms and extensive knowledge of drug & alcohol testing procedures have won us a reputation for the most professional services available in our field.