Psychophysiologic aspects of the problem of pirates activity in the world ocean as a kind of humanitarian crisis

Background. The profession of seafarer is linked with the contact of many dangerous occupational and ecological factors, which are harmful to seaman’s health and life. Obiective. To analyze areas of constant pirate attacks are similar in their social, economic, psychological and medical components to other humanitarian disasters. Materials and methods. The studies are undertaken on the base of Odessa National Marine Academy (ONMA) and Marine Training Center for seamen, who were passing sequencing employments and reattestation (58 persons, of whom 37 worked in hazardous areas for pirate attacks), students of the ONMA of correspondence form of education (CFE) - 43 persons, of whom 32 worked in hazardous areas pirate attacks, and students of full-time form of education (FTFE) - 89 persons (36 – after trips in hazardous areas), during simulator preparation and handing over of examinations. The survey and interviews were also conducted with 58 family members of seamen working in hazardous areas (mainly mothers and wives). A control group was made by the seamen of port fleet (32 persons) with zero risk of pirate attacks. Results. Conducted interviews and questionnaires of seamen and cadets, who had returned from trips to the hazardous of pirate attacks areas, did not reveal significant changes in their psychophysiological status. This was also confirmed by data execution of psychological tests. Conclusions. 1. In the complication due to the situation on the sea routes associated with the risk of international terrorism and piracy on the high seas significantly increases the importance of seaman’s psychophysiological status and the readiness for an adequate response and concerted action in emergencies. 2. Psychophysiological basis while developing overcome psychoemotional stress is a system of individual and personal qualities, which manifests itself as integrally degree of stability to stress and provides an adequate response in terms of danger and reflection pirate attacks. 3. Stress level can be effectively decrease with the help of psychophysiological training, autotraining and other form of psychoemotional status management, as well as preventive and rehabilitative measures against depression, anxiety, fatigue and other posttraumatic stress disorders. Such methods can be successfully used as a purpose, i.e. before, during and after the emergent situation.