According to the latest Mission to Seafarer’s survey, seafarers are becoming unhappy due to the current situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In their survey report called Seafarer’s Happiness Index, the overall seafarer happiness dropped to 6.30 in the 1st quarter of 2020 from 6.39 in the last quarter of 2019.
“Respondents reported feeling trapped, concerned for their own health, but also struggling to comprehend what is happening in their home countries and to loved ones. As nations across the globe go into lockdown, many seafarers reported feeling utterly helpless and sadly useless to their families as the distance between them is felt more acutely than ever” the report said.
The Seafarers Happiness Index is a live barometer of the key issues facing those at sea, and as such COVID-19 is naturally reflected in the latest set of responses from crew globally. This special survey focuses on workload, shore leave and interaction of crew onboard.
Increase in Workload
The happiness feedback in regards to seafarer’s workload has dropped from 5.89 to 5.69.
It’s still business as usual onboard some seafarers say. However, with crews forced to serve extended contracts due to COVID-19 restrictions, they are starting to report greater levels of fatigue and burnout as a result.
If there has been an increase in workload, these we’re felt by the crew who are in charge of constantly cleaning and disinfecting accommodation areas. Seafarers have reported that the vessel’s hygiene shall be in par with hospital standards and an ongoing and relentless struggle to ensure their vessels remain virus free.
Cuts in manpower, increased paperwork, constant demands from shore management, uncaring regimes onboard, all these add up to a workload tsunami which seafarers feel swamped with daily. Comments were received such as, “too much paperwork and no time for social life, a hectic schedule without proper shore leave”. Even well-known and respected companies were criticized for having, “less crew and too much physical work to do” the report stated.
Interaction with other Crew Onboard
The happiness feedback in regards to seafarer’s interaction with other crew onboard has increased from 7.09 to 7.13.
Although there is a slight increase in this area, answers from the survey gave definite indications of increasing tensions onboard. Life onboard is one of a delicate balance and harmony, and where this is impacted social tensions can easily rise.
Seafarer’s are concerned about the status of the safety & well being of their families back home. Having uncertainty and doubts about this can have negative impacts on relationship onboard.
There is also a struggle on staying connected with families and friends due to lockdown situations where welfare organization, port chaplains and sellers are unable to board the ship to provide sim and phone cards to crews onboard.
Shore Leave
The happiness feedback in regards to shore leave has dropped from 5.90 to 5.80.
“The issue of shore leave and of getting time away from the vessel is one which has proven problematic across previous Happiness Index reports. Put very simply, seafarers are not happy with the barriers they face when trying to have much needed and deserved time away from the vessel”
A regular contributor to the Seafarers Happiness Index stressed once more the view that “shore leave is dead. Instead we should make ships a more favorable place to be
on in the first place”. This seafarer also added, “We are down to absolute minimum levels of crew which means taking shore leave in port requires someone else to cover you and therefore fatigue themselves more”
The current COVID-19 pandemic has completely taken away the shore leave’s purpose to the overall well-being of a seafarer. Majority of crews do not expect shore leave anymore and just concerned to have their contracts completed than expecting temporary breaks from work.
Who are the Respondents?
Meet the respondents whom the data was from and compiled by the Mission of Seafarers in their quarterly survey on the Seafarer’s Happiness Index.
Where do respondents came from?
This survey was done in association with Wallem and ShipOwners – Security for Small & Specialist vessels.
Get the full report here.
Watch the reaction video
Please Subscribe to our Youtube channel!