- WiseStella launches a crew well-being tool to tackle mental health issues, stress, and harassment at sea.
- The Wise Well-Being module allows anonymous reporting, enabling companies to improve workplace conditions.
- Experts stress the need for a safer, more inclusive maritime industry, calling for proactive leadership and psychological support.
Singapore-based maritime learning provider WiseStella has introduced a crew well-being assessment tool to help shipping companies address rising mental health challenges, workplace harassment, and fatigue among seafarers, reports AJOT.
New Well-Being Tool for Seafarers
The Wise Well-Being module, developed with HR experts and psychologists, provides an anonymous platform for seafarers to report issues.
It allows companies to take targeted actions to improve crew safety, job satisfaction, and retention.
Mental Health & Harassment at Sea: A Growing Concern
Seafarers often work in isolated environments with limited access to mental health support, making it difficult to report bullying, discrimination, and harassment.
According to WiseStella CEO Ferhat Abul: “Seafarers need a voice under a cloak of anonymity to help them and their employers take appropriate action.”
Recent cases highlight the industry’s ongoing challenges:
- A female crew member was denied boarding purely because of her gender.
- A European officer named Emily was sexually assaulted in her cabin, as reported at the International Maritime Human Factors Symposium.
A 2022 WISTA survey found that:
- 60% of female seafarers experienced gender-based discrimination.
- 66% reported harassment or intimidation from male colleagues.
- 25% stated that physical and sexual harassment was common.
According to Dr. Rafet Emek Kurt, an expert in maritime safety: “There are many cases of verbal, psychological, sexual, and physical abuse. This leads to poor mental health, reputational damage, and increased accident risks at sea.”
A Proactive Approach to Mental Health & Safety
The Wise Well-Being module allows companies to directly collect workforce well-being data through an interactive digital survey, rather than relying on third-party assessments.
- HR teams can analyze results to pinpoint workplace issues.
- Companies gain insights into crew mental, social, and physical health.
- Anonymous reporting helps address misconduct without fear of retaliation.
Psychologist Yaren Cemre Gulcek emphasized the importance of tackling workplace stress: “Prolonged stress, isolation, and harassment weaken team dynamics, increase human error, and compromise safety.”
Tineke Zoet, a maritime transformational coach, highlighted the role of leadership in addressing workplace culture: “Unmanaged conflict and lack of psychological safety cause stress and dangerous working conditions. Human-centered leadership and proactive communication are crucial.”
Future of Wise Well-Being & Industry Adoption
The Wise Well-Being module is now available to shipping companies globally, with early adopters already benefiting. Future enhancements include:
- Direct access to mental health professionals.
- Training programs for awareness and leadership development.
- Personalized well-being recommendations based on survey feedback.
WiseStella is also collaborating with academic institutions to continuously update the platform to meet seafarer and industry needs.
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Source: AJOT
