Those who improve crew welfare deserve recognition

SINGAPORE Maritime Week 2023 may have come and gone, but there was so much useful discussion and new insights that this column will be dipping into that pool of material for a while yet.

This week, however, I am primarily focusing on an event that will take place in Singapore towards the end of the year, run by an organisation that has a special place in the hearts of many seafarers – certainly in mine. 

Nominations are open for the sixth annual The Mission to Seafarers’ annual Seafarers Awards 2023. The ubiquitous international seafarer welfare charity is holding its awards ceremony on Nov 2 at the Fairmont Singapore Hotel.

Jan Webber, the Mission’s director of development, says: “We have moved the event to an even-bigger venue this year, as the event has grown considerably since its inception in 2018. It shows how the industry values the importance of crew welfare. If last year was anything to go by, this year will be even more popular and impactful as we have already secured bookings for 24 tables.”

In a statement, the Mission notes: “Recognition of seafarers’ welfare initiatives is of vital importance to raise the standards across the board. We must not forget that seafarers continue to face unprecedented challenges and it is more important than ever to recognise those who go above and beyond to support their welfare. All are welcome to submit their nominations and help us honour those who have made significant contributions to seafarers’ well-being.”

The award categories are:

• Seafarer’s Award: The seafarer who has made a significant contribution to welfare at sea;
• Shore-based Award: The shore-based person who has made a significant contribution to seafarers’ welfare;
• Innovation Award: The company that has embraced a new programme, project, or training which has enhanced seafarers’ welfare;
• Cadet Award: The Cadet or Trainee who has made a significant contribution to seafarers’ welfare at sea or ashore;
• Rescue Award: The person or company who has coordinated a successful rescue operation to save lives at sea; and
• Secretary General Award: The person or company who has shown sustained efforts to improve seafarers’ welfare at sea or ashore.

Thanks to the generous donations and support from industry and community supporters, the Mission to Seafarers helps seafarers through practical, emotional, and spiritual guidance, as well as training, the provision of communication and connectivity solutions, and much more.

Andrew Wright, the Mission’s secretary general, says: “We are finding post-pandemic that seafarers continue to face challenges with access to shore leave. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight the importance of shore leave to mental health and well-being. Taking a short break from the harsh mechanisation of a ship to feel the grass beneath your feet is unquestionably good for mental health.

“We urge more companies to prioritise the importance of shore leave. Seafarers have had to cope with many challenges over the past years, and still the Ukrainian and Russian seafarers face a fraught and emotional future. We help them and hundreds of thousands of seafarers with whatever problems they have – 24/7 in 200 locations.

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“The Seafarers Awards is an opportunity to raise awareness and show appreciation to the individuals and organisations who have made exceptional contributions to improving the welfare of seafarers.”

In that context, it is worth noting that another Mission initiative, the Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI), in its latest report highlights a decline in overall satisfaction levels among vessel crews. It notes that, in the first quarter of 2023, overall satisfaction levels among seafarers fell to 7.1 out of 10 from 7.69/10 in the fourth quarter of 2022. 

Covering 10 key areas of life at sea, the report identifies concerns surrounding access to shore leave and onshore welfare services as the most significant challenges facing seafarers. Between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023, the former fell from 6.76/10 to 6.23/10, while the latter dropped from 7.41/10 to 6.49/10. 

However, on a more positive note, the same period saw satisfaction with onboard connectivity rise from 7.4/10 to 7.56/10, reflecting a generally positive response from seafarers on the ability to maintain contact with family.

The SHI is sponsored by marine insurer NorthStandard and ships surveying company Idwal. Together with the Mission and SHI founder Steven Jones and global communications company Inmarsat, they met to examine the results of the latest SHI report. Supported by an invited panel of ship owners, managers and charterers, the roundtable group aims to translate lessons from the report into meaningful solutions for the long-term improvement of seafarer welfare.

“It is unfortunate to see a dip in satisfaction levels from 7.69/10 to 7.1/10 in Q1 of 2023 following the incremental rise reported throughout 2022,” says Captain Yves Vandenborn, director of Loss Prevention, NorthStandard Club. “Persistent frustrations with shore leave and challenges with extended periods on board appear to have had a negative impact on scoring as the pace of industry-wide improvement to these areas has been slow. There is also a growing awareness among seafarers of the disparities in terms of the provision of connectivity, access to mental health support and well-being programmes offered to crew by companies across the industry.

“Shipping is the lifeblood of the global economy and dependent on nearly two million seafarers, relying on their expertise, experience and professionalism every day, so it is vital that their health and well-being are prioritised. NorthStandard will continue to support members in raising awareness of important well-being aspects to drive positive change and improve job satisfaction, productivity and retention among seafarers. This will, in turn, help ship owners to attract and recruit the most talented personnel.”

In other words, there is a lot more to be done to improve the living conditions on the world’s merchant fleet. The Misson’s work is vital but it essentially fills gaps in support for seafarers. The main emphasis has to be on persuading all employers to prioritise the well-being of their crews. Both the Seafarers Awards and the SHI help to do that by raising awareness of the reality of life for a workforce that is usually out of the public gaze.