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Report Shows Seafarers "Losing Faith" After a Year of COVID Crisis

27 Jan 2021

 

 

The latest benchmark Seafarers' Happiness Index from Mission to Seafarers sounds a dark note as the COVID-19 pandemic and the crew change crisis drag on. Overall index scores last quarter were up slightly, but individual written responses reveal "a real sense of resignation and antipathy" due to heavy workloads, extended contracts, stress and uncertainty.

 

According to Mission to Seafarers, many respondents say that they do not feel appreciated or understood by the home office, and they are "losing faith" in the systems designed to protect their wellbeing. The onboard culture on many ships has become cynical, with expectations that things will get worse. Many are afraid to speak out for fear of losing their jobs, while others report that they are quitting the industry altogether out of frustration. One year into the pandemic, some respondents expressed weariness with the industry's balance between rhetoric and action on crew change. "Words are cheap, we need flights home," one seafarer wrote. 

 

“No one seems happy at all at the moment, and how could they? I am stuck on my ship, it is the hardest time I have ever known, even after 30 years of seagoing," one respondent wrote. "We do not know when we’ll be relieved, and even if and when we do, then we will be at home perhaps stuck with no work."

 

The survey also drew negative responses about travel and quarantine measures in the COVID era. Seafarers have been particularly affected by travel restrictions, and many nations have set up special testing and pre-travel quarantine requirements for their movement. Some seafarers have reported that these measures have resulted in substandard, frustrating and "degrading" treatment in the process.

 

In addition, hours of rest violations have always been common, but they now appear to be on the rise. Many seafarers reported long hours and altered paperwork to cover it up. "It is normal for us, and everyone knows what goes on. Port State Control never really checks, and never follows up on what we write, so the system keeps on," one respondent wrote.

 

Many seafarers also reported that a rush to train up in advance of the IMO 2021 cyber regulations has not been "matched by investment elsewhere," and that the training is undermined by poor shipboard system security and equipment.

 

The upside is that some vessel operators have been trying to improve quality of life on board, even when it isn't possible to carry out a crew change. Better satellite internet access, better food, and better budgets for crew welfare have drawn praise from seafarers who benefit from them. "Small gestures mean a lot, especially in difficult circumstances. The companies which find the budget for new equipment, or who are able to improve the facilities onboard, gain a huge amount of respect from crew," Mission to Seafarers wrote.

BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE 01-26-2021 08:54:00

 

Comments (0)


Today
8:03am
Hi Jenna! I made a new design, and i wanted to show it to you.
8:03am
It's quite clean and it's inspired from Bulkit.
8:12am
Oh really??! I want to see that.
8:13am
FYI it was done in less than a day.
8:17am
Great to hear it. Just send me the PSD files so i can have a look at it.
8:18am
And if you have a prototype, you can also send me the link to it.

Monday
4:55pm
Hey Jenna, what's up?
4:56pm
Iam coming to LA tomorrow. Interested in having lunch?
5:21pm
Hey mate, it's been a while. Sure I would love to.
5:27pm
Ok. Let's say i pick you up at 12:30 at work, works?
5:43pm
Yup, that works great.
5:44pm
And yeah, don't forget to bring some of my favourite cheese cake.
5:27pm
No worries

Today
2:01pm
Hello Jenna, did you read my proposal?
2:01pm
Didn't hear from you since i sent it.
2:02pm
Hello Milly, Iam really sorry, Iam so busy recently, but i had the time to read it.
2:04pm
And what did you think about it?
2:05pm
Actually it's quite good, there might be some small changes but overall it's great.
2:07pm
I think that i can give it to my boss at this stage.
2:09pm
Crossing fingers then

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