- Survey Finds Over a Quarter of Seafarers Get No Shore Leave.
- Officers and Tanker Crews Face Greatest Shore Leave Restrictions.
- High Workloads, Port Security, and Costs Block Shore Leave Access.
A recent report from the ITF Seafarers’ Trust (ITFST) and the World Maritime University (WMU) has brought to light the ongoing issue of seafarers not being able to take shore leave, reports Marine Link.
Survey Findings
The study looked at responses from 5,879 seafarers who took part in the ITFST’s Shore Leave Survey. Researchers at WMU discovered that over a quarter of these seafarers didn’t get any shore leave during their contracts. Additionally, about a third managed to go ashore only once or twice during an average contract that lasts 6.6 months at sea.
Officers were the least likely to enjoy shore leave, while those on offshore vessels and tankers faced the toughest restrictions. Even when they were allowed to go ashore, nearly half of the respondents reported spending less than three hours on land, and more than ninety-three per cent were away from their ship for less than six hours.
Barriers to Shore Leave
The report pointed out several systemic obstacles that keep seafarers from stepping ashore. These include low crew numbers and heavy workloads, increased inspections, strict port security measures, and operational efficiencies that cut down on time spent in port. In many areas, the lack of shore-based facilities and the high cost of transportation also add to the challenges.
Seafarers’ Voices
The report included first-hand accounts from seafarers, revealing the depth of frustration caused by the lack of shore leave. A Turkish deck officer, after 4.5 months on board a tanker, shared: “As a deck officer, most of the time, our shore leave is based on our port watch schedule and chief officers’ approach to officers; while having 6 on 6 off watch it is almost impossible to go out without making another officer take your watch for a couple of hours, and after you are back in port you have to take night watch which makes it hard to stand.”
An Indian deck officer, after six months onboard, stated: “I have been working in the shipping industry since 2006. I have noticed that all the ports have slowly found ways to deny shore leave to the ship’s crew. If they can’t tell ‘NO!’ straightaway, then they will impose heavy charges so that everyone automatically refuses to go ashore. Plus, the workload and the commercial pressure on senior officers are so much that they find it difficult to go ashore. Generally, oil/chemical refineries where our tankers go for loading or discharging are far away from the cities. There is nothing close by where we can go and relax a bit, have some nice food or go shopping. There are ports which force us to use boats for shore leave, and those boats are very expensive and unaffordable! After a long sailing, we feel exhausted, and it’s our right, I think, to get a shore leave.”
Call for Action
The report stressed the importance of addressing the shore leave issue to safeguard seafarers’ health and well-being. It stated: “At a time when mental health and well-being are recognized as important considerations for seafarers’ health and safety on board, access to shore leave should be promoted to ensure the safe management of the vessel. Further, given the looming crew shortages, affording decent opportunities for relaxation from work should be a priority for attracting and retaining crew.”
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Source: Marine Link
