Seafarer's Wellbeing

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Manila Declaration on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety and Well-Being gains...

It also promotes corporate human rights due diligence, women empowerment, just transition amid digitalisation and decarbonisation, and harnessing international cooperation for maritime education and training.

Thus far, 10 countries have formally endorsed the declaration: Bangladesh, Germany, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

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Sailors’ Society and ITF Seafarers’ Trust are now reshaping maritime training...

More than 1,000 cadets, ratings and trainees logged on for the 2025 Africa Wellness at Sea Conference – safe, seen and supported – seafaring in a changing world. This is the fifth year that these events have been held, and they attract more than 10,000 next generation seafarers from across the globe.

Global Maritime Forum Warns Industry Risks Leadership Crisis Without...

The “Diversifying Maritime Leadership” report, based on 108 in-depth interviews with maritime leaders working both at sea and on shore, identifies three major barriers to leadership diversity: societal norms that shape perceptions of who is “fit” to lead, company cultures that unintentionally disadvantage underrepresented groups, and professional relationships that can either empower or marginalize capable leaders.

According to the report’s conclusion, “Diversifying maritime leadership is critical not only for stronger business outcomes but also for advancing social and environmental impact, improving workforce satisfaction and engagement, and building resilience in the face of a global talent shortage”.
The Global Maritime Forum developed the report in collaboration with All Aboard Alliance member companies.

Shaping the future of global seaborne trade

All Aboard Alliance Insights 2025

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Become a seafarer and get paid for seeing the world:

Study warns seafarers’ shore leave still in steep decline since pandemic -...

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Become a seafarer and be exploited by -----:

Tackling the root causes of seafarer exploitation - Splash247

But there is another side to the story as well:

The uncomfortable truth is that not all seafarers are innocent victims. Some are complicit in the deception.
They pay agents to falsify their documents so that they appear more qualified or experienced than they really are.

Turning a blind eye to document fraud undermines the entire maritime profession
Shipping is a challenging and demanding business. The safety of every voyage depends on the competence and honesty of those onboard. If we want to maintain trust in our industry, we must call out and eliminate practices that compromise safety. It is time to stop turning a blind eye. Those who falsify documents and those who allow them to go unpunished are both part of the problem, and both must be held accountable.

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Seafarers get a sayso with the help from modern technology:

Splash launches special Seafarers magazine - Splash247

That connection between wellbeing and efficiency is now data-backed. Reports from various crew welfare indices show direct links between morale and measurable operational outcomes — from reduced incident rates to better fuel efficiency. The logic is hard to ignore: engaged, respected crews perform better.

Technology has become a new ally in this shift. Digital platforms now give crews anonymous ways to share feedback directly with management, bypassing the old chain of command that often filtered or softened messages. Companies like Columbia Group and BSM have rolled out apps that log onboard conditions, training needs, and even emotional wellbeing indicators.

PS: you can still use the old ways of complaining about everything, (i.e complain loudly in the messroom) if that is more to your liking.

[AKBJR]

I remember reading an article in GEO magazine back in the Eighties, written by, I think, an American who acquired a fake Third Mate certificate in Egypt. He did so deliberately to prove the point of fake documents being bought. He got a job in a ship named “Aphrodite B.”, IIRC. The Master soon uncovered the deception when the “mate” was told to take a bearing, I believe. When the Master realized what the blank stare he was met with meant, he said “You’ve never been to sea, have you.” and walked away shaking his head. The “mate” was allowed to stay on.
This is my best recollection of the story. Can’t find anything online.

[AKBJR]

Also, relating to the topic, this is why I stopped sailing foreign for the final years of my career. I could never get ashore for more than a couple of hours. Even though there was hard work for everyone aboard, at somewhat miserable wages, there was a lot to be said for the tramp bulker trade. You could really get to know a place.

[mariner-25]

It’s pretty simple - pay. None of us are out here for charity. Pay needs to keep up with inflation at a bare minimum which it hasn’t done.

Other things that would significantly help are shorter hitches and good WiFi.

Now that I’ve had high speed WiFi I don’t think I could ever go back. FaceTiming my kids every day isn’t something I’d give up.

I could do 120 hitches when I was single - with kids I’m not doing that anymore. I do 28/28 now which to me is the perfect sweet spot for me but I don’t think anyone should be missing entire seasons of the year especially for pay the isn’t commensurate to the sacrifice.

[Offshoreworker25]

Great thread and very important for seafarers. Wellbeing and mental health is very important. There is a website which also helps seafarers check conditions onboard vessels before they join. Which can help mental health with right down time conditions on vessels. Its great to see some modern vessels so well equipped

Offshore Ship Advisor - improving life at sea

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Seafarers push to shape the ships they sail - Splash247

Why crew wellbeing is a commercial and ethical imperative - Splash247

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The importance of shore leave again:

The critical importance of shore leave - Splash247

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In these frosty days in much of North America, Northern Europe and Asia:

Cold stress is the risk nobody models - Splash247

Cold affects far more than equipment. It slows the brain, impairs reaction time and weakens judgment, yet we continue to treat crews as if the human body functions normally in freezing temperatures. Regulations require protective gear but offer no standard for quality or suitability.

The ongoing STCW revisions offer a rare chance to revisit manning scales and operational assumptions, and these should factor in the impact of operating in extremes of weather including cold.
Minimum manning certificates were meant to protect safety, yet too often they fail to consider a vessel’s age, trade or location of operation. Without reform, the industry will continue to place crews in situations where they are expected to compensate for systemic shortcomings through endurance alone.

PS: What says you who operate or serve on ships in Alaska?

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It is still a hard world for seafarers:

The industry blind spot that lets crew suffering escalate - Splash247

Many owners and managers do care and do take care of their crew, but even the most dedicated will know the pressures of the industry create situations of abuse. Issues of shore leave are out of the control of the owners. Flag states, P&I and class all lack the moral fibre to implement change that might be needed. They rely on their members for revenue and ship numbers. A self-regulating industry is flawed in this day and age.