The Maritime Govt
[By: The Mission to Seafarers]
The Mission to Seafarers has revealed the most recent Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI) report for Quarter 2, 2023, revealing a notable decline in total happiness. The survey, carried out in affiliation with NorthStandard and Idwal, supported by Inmarsat, measures the wellbeing of seafarers worldwide by ten key questions on their work and life. The newest report reveals an total fall in seafarer happiness from 7.1/10 to six.77/10, in comparison with Q1 2023.
In Q2 2023 (April to June), happiness ranges declined throughout all query areas, with essentially the most important drops noticed generally crew happiness, shore go away, and workload, exhibiting an approximate 8% lower. Common seafarer happiness ranges have now declined from a excessive of seven.69/10 in This fall 2022 to 7.1/10 in Q1 2023, and now 6.77/10 in Q2. In one other marked distinction to earlier years, happiness ranges haven’t risen over the course of the calendar 12 months.
On this reporting interval, seafarers expressed their struggles at not but seeing working and residing circumstances absolutely return to pre-pandemic requirements, notably in areas corresponding to crew adjustments, time spent on board, wages, and shore go away. Different key points raised by respondents included unmanageable workloads, restricted web entry, and insufficient health club amenities.
The COVID-19 pandemic uncovered important challenges for seafarers, together with crew change delays, prolonged time on board, and declining wages, resulting in worsened working circumstances. Regardless of rising from the pandemic, returning to pre-COVID circumstances for seafarers has been troublesome, inflicting frustration amongst those that work at sea.
A significant concern was the scarcity of accessible consuming water. This requires fast consideration, because it was a typical downside from these responding to the survey, regardless of this being explicitly lined by the Maritime Labour Conference (MLC).
Rising international meals costs have additionally impacted seafarers, with low firm meal budgets and expense cuts resulting in inadequate meals provides, typically for durations of as much as 2-3 weeks.
Seafarers face restricted alternatives for shore go away as a consequence of ongoing restrictions and firm insurance policies, negatively affecting psychological well being, job satisfaction, and welfare, resulting in boredom, frustration, and low morale. Shockingly, some respondents have by no means skilled shore go away of their careers. Requires standardised protocols and extra shore go away alternatives persist. This concern must be addressed to supply seafarers with alternatives for rejuvenation and leisure actions ashore.
The shortage of work-life stability and violations of labor and relaxation hours are additionally frequent issues, violating the MLC’s provisions. As well as, seafarers are involved about their wages, with some reportedly being paid solely as soon as throughout their time on board, with subsequent durations thought-about “gaining expertise” with out fee, akin to fashionable slavery. Stagnation of wages in some corporations over 15 years led to a big discrepancy between compensation and workload. This underscores the necessity for honest and well timed changes to wages, reflecting the true worth of their contributions to the {industry}.
In conclusion, the Quarter 2 2023 Seafarers Happiness Index report reveals that seafarers are dealing with important challenges, resulting in additional decline of their satisfaction with work and life at sea. Enhancing their wellbeing requires addressing these points.
The Revd Canon Andrew Wright, Secretary Common of The Mission to Seafarers, stated: “The Seafarers Happiness Index is a crucial useful resource that enables us to realize invaluable insights into the wellbeing of seafarers and the evolving challenges they face. We’re grateful to all seafarers who participated within the survey and shared their experiences, which helps us advocate for significant adjustments on the problems that matter most to them.
“This can be very disappointing to learn of contracts being altered or disregarded, resulting in fee points, wage cuts, rising taxes, and elevated residing prices, in addition to such basic necessities such pretty much as good high quality meals, entry to shore go away and manageable workloads. All seafarers are absolutely entitled to count on honest compensation for his or her laborious work, dedication and dedication to holding worldwide delivery shifting. It’s incumbent upon all of us to deal with these points and make the enhancements required to boost seafarers’ working circumstances, wellbeing and job satisfaction.”
Thom Herbert, Idwal Senior Marine Surveyor and Crew Welfare Advocate, commented: “We at Idwal are deeply involved by the findings of The Mission to Seafarers’ Q2 2023 Seafarers Happiness Index report, which highlights the continued decline in total happiness amongst seafarers worldwide. Struggles with working and residing circumstances, crew adjustments, time spent on board, wages, and shore go away are notably disheartening. Points like unmanageable workloads, restricted web entry, and insufficient health club amenities additional exacerbate hardship however we’re notably troubled to listen to of an absence of accessible consuming water. All these findings underscore the pressing want for industry-wide efforts to enhance the wellbeing of seafarers.”
Capt Yves Vandenborn, Head of Loss Prevention Asia-Pacific at NorthStandard, added: “NorthStandard is worried concerning the frustrations voiced by seafarers because the Seafarers Happiness Index has fallen for a second consecutive time in 2023. The report spotlights points in areas corresponding to crew adjustments, stagnant wages, elevated workloads, and restricted entry to shore go away. Happiness ranges falling throughout all classes alerts a sustained drop in positivity and the responses from seafarers paint a worrying snapshot of the circumstances they’re experiencing. The membership will proceed to lift consciousness of the important thing points in a bid to boost seafarers’ working circumstances, total wellbeing, and satisfaction throughout the maritime {industry}.”
Addressing Seafarers’ Challenges and Subsequent Steps
The Mission to Seafarers, along with {industry} companions, is dedicated to utilizing the Seafarers Happiness Index as an important software to spotlight seafarers’ challenges and enhance their welfare. A current Govt Roundtable on Crew Welfare, held throughout Singapore Maritime Week 2023, introduced collectively {industry} leaders, ship homeowners, managers, and charterers to determine efficient options for seafarers’ challenges and well-being.
The following part of the initiative will happen throughout London Worldwide Delivery Week in September 2023, the place additional progress can be made in reworking suggestions into concrete motion.
The Mission to Seafarers will proceed to deal with the problems highlighted within the SHI report. By working along with {industry} leaders, ship homeowners, managers, and charterers, the Mission goals to seek out actionable options that improve seafarers’ total well-being, security, and high quality of life.
To learn the complete Seafarers Happiness Index report for Q2 2023, click on right here.
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