Bed bugs are considered a great nuisance for vessels, especially within the crew cabins and passenger accommodation. These insects are small, nocturnal bugs feeding on human blood, which gives bites and makes one feel very uncomfortable. They are very hard to get rid of once they’ve taken over an area, so it’s all about early detection and trying to avoid them.

Generally, management would include an infestation search in the cabins and common areas, along with some focused treatments such as heat treatments, the use of insecticide sprays, or steam cleaning. Bedding, furniture, carpets may be infected; these may need replacement or treatment. This could be further aided by routine checks on cabins, especially during boarding and disembarkation. The encasing of mattresses and constant surveillance regarding the status of linen could help minimize the occurrence of bed bug incidents.