During a discussion on the second day of the 2023 Crew Welfare Week, ship managers focused on the key challenges related to seafarers’ wellbeing and highlighted the impact of technology and digitalization in shipping industry, reports Safety4sea.
The panel moderator Namrata Nadkarni, CEO of Intent Communications Ltd. and maritime content creator for 20 years, welcomed ship managers, Capt. John Lloyd, Chief Officer of the Nautical Institute, Rob Gale, head of training at the IMEC, Helio Vicente, senior manager policy and employment affairs, ICS, Capt. Akshat Arora, UK P&I Club based in Singapore, and Jongchul Park, Technical Officer, IMO.
Challenges that seafarers have to face
There are many challenges that seafarers have to face onboard. Firstly, seafarers suffer stress because they are away from family for a long period of time, they may be worried about loved ones and they lack quality sleep. In addition, they have to deal with piracy, which is a terrifying experience, and it is on the increase. Piracy can affect seafarers’ well-being and their life onboard.
Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic the most important challenge was that seafarers were not allowed to go ashore, and they were confined onboard their ships for a long period. “According to the findings of the report of the Seafarers Happiness Index of 2023, even though COVID-19 is down, seafarers are still facing the challenges of that period. Seafarers had to face the pandemic and now they are faced the war in Ukraine, where a lot of ships are stuck, and a lot of people are in war zone areas”, commented Capt. Akshat Arora.
Jongchul Park, explained that a serious challenge that crew onboard faces is bullying and harassment including sexual research such in the maritime sector. “According to a study, over 50 of a Woman’s secrets experience sexual assault and harassment on board and 17% of women’s leaders are going to be suffering from this issue”, added.
For these reasons, the shipping industry should treat seafarers with respect and understanding, to realize that when they are assigned to a ship, they travel safely, without facing bullying onboard and other challenges.
It becomes clear that shipping industries and their collaboration with other companies play a key role in crew’s life. They should be committed to exploring collaboration from the start. Helio Vicente, noted that: “I hate the word partnership when it actually leads to nothing, but it’s a nice press release somewhere. What we want is practical partnerships, that will achieve practical things.”
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Source: Safety4sea
