Journal is indexed in following databases:



2023 Journal Impact Factor - 0.7
2023 CiteScore - 1.4



HomePage
 




 


 

ISSN 2083-6473
ISSN 2083-6481 (electronic version)
 

 

 

Editor-in-Chief

Associate Editor
Prof. Tomasz Neumann
 

Published by
TransNav, Faculty of Navigation
Gdynia Maritime University
3, John Paul II Avenue
81-345 Gdynia, POLAND
www http://www.transnav.eu
e-mail transnav@umg.edu.pl
Seafarers’ Wellbeing or Business, a Complex Paradox of the Industry
ABSTRACT: The research is an insightful exploration into what contributes to the deterioration of seafarers’ wellbeing. It unveils the determinant factors and their impact on wellbeing, further exploring the perception and awareness levels of the maritime society on the issue. Moreover, the effectiveness of main regulatory instruments to address seafarers’ wellbeing is analysed and discussed. Qualitative methodology based on semi-structured interviews and content analysis was applied. Twenty-six active seafarers of different nationalities and working on different types of vessels, one pilot and 11 influential maritime stakeholders of the industry were interviewed. The literature review shows that wellbeing can only be fully understood when considering its physical, mental and social dimensions, and emphasizing its significance the workplace. However, the study indicates that despite high awareness of such dimensions and determinant factors of wellbeing, the psychosocial working conditions provided by shipowners onboard ships are not in full compliance with a holistic view of wellbeing. Moreover, shipping companies lack promotion and training on awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues onboard ships and how to handle them, as the existing safety management system is based on incident and accident reduction principles. Results expose excessive workload and lack of sleep (as a result of reduced manning) as major contributors to fatigue further causing deterioration of seafarers’ wellbeing. Other revealed factors include long contracts, lack of shore leave, unavailability of recreational facilities and internet connection, lack of onboard socialising, fear of job loss and stress/anxiety. The regulatory instrument MLC 2006 sets out basic seafarers’ rights but does not fully capture their wellbeing to its fullest. Seafarers’ wellbeing is unlikely to improve unless awareness of the concept of wellbeing is installed within the SMS and all of its dimensions are well addressed in future amendments of the regulatory instruments.
REFERENCES
Bakar Hamad, H.: Flag of Convenience Practice: A Threat to Maritime Safety and Security. jsshr. 1, 8, 208–230 (2016).
Baumler, R., Bhatia, B.S., Kitada, M.: Ship first: Seafarers’ adjustment of records on work and rest hours. Marine Policy. 104186 (2020). - doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104186
Bhattacharya, S.: The effectiveness of the ISM Code: A qualitative enquiry. Marine Policy. 36, 2, 528–535 (2012). - doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2011.09.004
Bowen, G.A.: Naturalistic inquiry and the saturation concept: A research note. Qualitative research. 8:1, 137-152 (2008).
Bush, D.: From the News Desk: Seafarers in crisis, https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1135936/From-the-News-Desk-Seafarers-in-crisis, last accessed 2021/05/17.
Corbett, A.: Sea Coral rescue spat shows why seafarers need a legal safety net | TradeWinds, https://www.tradewindsnews.com/regulation/sea-coral-rescue-spat-shows-why-seafarers-need-a-legal-safety-net/2-1-959632, last accessed 2021/05/17.
Exarchopoulos, G., Zhang, P., Pryce-Roberts, N., Zhao, M.: Seafarers’ welfare: A critical review of the related legal issues under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006. Marine Policy. 93, 62–70 (2018). - doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2018.04.005
G.A. Res. 217 (III) A: Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (1948).
Graham, C.: Why the MLC is failing as a regulatory response to the Covid-19 global pandemic, https://splash247.com/why-the-mlc-is-failing-as-a-regulatory-response-to-the-covid-19-global-pandemic/, last accessed 2021/05/17.
Graham, C.A., Walters, D.: Representation of seafarers’ occupational safety and health: Limits of the Maritime Labour Convention. The Economic and Labour Relations Review. 1035304620981374 (2020). - doi:10.1177/1035304620981374
Grey, M.: Seafarers demand respect for the life-critical services they have tirelessly provided during the pandemic, https://www.missiontoseafarers.org/the-sea/the-invisible-workforce, last accessed 2021/05/17.
Hand, M.: Charities continue providing seafarer welfare amid coronavirus restrictions, https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/charities-continue-providing-seafarer-welfare-amid-coronavirus-restrictions, last accessed 2021/05/17.
International Transport Workers’ Federation: Flags of convenience, https://www.itfglobal.org/en/sector/seafarers/flags-of-convenience, last accessed 2021/05/17.
Iversen, R.T.B.: The Mental Health of Seafarers. International Maritime Health. 63, 2, 78–89 (2012).
Jensen, H.-J., Oldenburg, M.: Objective and subjective measures to assess stress among seafarers. International Maritime Health. 72, 1, 49–54 (2021). - doi:10.5603/IMH.2021.0007
Jepsen, J., Zhao, Z., van Leeuwen, W.: Seafarer fatigue: a review of risk factors, consequences for seafarers’ health and safety and options for mitigation. International Maritime Health. 66, 2, 106–117 (2015). - doi:10.5603/IMH.2015.0024
Jepsen, J.R., Zhao, Z., Szymanski, K.: Project MARTHA. TK Foundation (2016).
Lefkovitz, R.Y., Slade, M.D.: Seafarer mental health study. The ITF Seafarers’ Trust, London (2019).
Lefkowitz, R.Y., Slade, M.D., Redlich, C.A.: Rates and occupational characteristics of international seafarers with mental illness. Occupational Medicine. 69, 4, 279–282 (2019). - doi:10.1093/occmed/kqz069
Lloyd’s Register: Crew feel ‘forgotten and abandoned’ LR survey finds., https://www.lr.org/en-gb/latest-news/crew-feel-forgotten-and-abandoned-lloyds-register-survey-finds/, last accessed 2021/05/17.
McVeigh, J., MacLachlan, M., Stilz, R., Cox, H., Doyle, N., Fraser, A., Dyer, M.: Positive Psychology and Well-Being at Sea. In: MacLachlan, M. (ed.) Maritime Psychology: Research in Organizational & Health Behavior at Sea. pp. 19–47 Springer International Publishing, Cham (2017). - doi:10.1007/978-3-319-45430-6_2
Marshal, B., Cardon, P., Poddar, A., Fontenot, R.: Does sample size matter in qualitative research? A review of qualitative interviews in IS research. J Com Inf Syst. 54(1):11-22 (2013).
Miles, M.B., Huberman, A.M.: Qualitative data analysis. Sage. 4, 408 (2019).
Nautilus International: The right to be well – should seafarer wellbeing be enshrined in maritime law?, https://www.nautilusint.org/en/news-insight/telegraph/the-right-to-be-well-should-seafarer-wellbeing-be-enshrined-in-maritime-law/, last accessed 2021/05/17.
Nautilus International: UK maritime welfare charities find a creative way to connect crews, https://www.nautilusint.org/en/news-insight/telegraph/uk-maritime-welfare-charities-find-a-creative-way-to-connect-crews/, last accessed 2021/05/17.
Nielsen, M., Bergheim, K., Eid, J.: Relationships between work environment factors and workers’ well-being in the maritime industry. International Maritime Health. 64, 2, 80–88 (2013).
Occupational Safety and Health Convention: Convention (No. 155), https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_ILO_CODE:C155, last accessed 2021/05/17.
Paraïso, J.: Ship shape - a working environment onboard. Chalmers University of Technology (2016).
Price, R.H., Hooijberg, R.: Organizational exit pressures and role stress: Impact on mental health. Journal of Organizational Behavior. 13, 7, 641–651 (1992). - doi:10.1002/job.4030130702
Rachele, J., Washington, T., Cockshaw, W.D., Brymer, E.: Towards an operational understanding of wellness. Journal of Spirituality, Leadership and Management. 7, 1, 3–12 (2013). - doi:10.15183/slm2013.07.1112
Renger, R.F., Midyett, S.J., Soto Mas, F.G., Erin, T.D., McDermott, H.M., Papenfuss, R.L., Eichling, P.S., Baker, D.H., Johnson, K.A., Hewitt, M.J.: Optimal Living Profile: An Inventory to Assess Health and Wellness. American Journal of Health Behavior. 24, 6, 403–412 (2000). - doi:10.5993/AJHB.24.6.1
Safety and health at work, workplace health promotion and wellbeing: Workplace well-being, https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/safety-and-health-at-work/areasofwork/workplace-health-promotion-and-well-being/WCMS_118396/lang--en/index.htm, last accessed 2021/05/17.
Sampson, H., Ellis, N.: Seafarer’s mental health and wellbeing. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, London (2019).
Slišković, A.: Seafarers’ well-being in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. Work. 67, 4, 799–809 (2020). - doi:10.3233/WOR-203333
Smith, A.: Adequate crewing and seafarers’ fatigue: the international perspective. Centre for Occupational and Health Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff (The UK) (2007).
Szymanski, K.: Be Mindful of Mental Health But Don’t Unfairly Stigmatize Seafarers, https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/be-mindful-of-mental-health-but-don-t-unfairly-stigmatize-seafarers, last accessed 2021/05/17.
Walters, D., Bailey, N.: Lives in Peril: Profit or Safety in the Global Maritime Industry? Palgrave Macmillan UK (2013). - doi:10.1057/9781137357298
Zhang, P., Shan, D., Zhao, M., Pryce-Roberts, N.: Navigating seafarer’s right to life across the shipping industry. Marine Policy. 99, 80–86 (2019). - doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2018.10.002
Citation note:
Tetemadze B., Carrera Arce M., Baumler R., Bartusevičiene I.: Seafarers’ Wellbeing or Business, a Complex Paradox of the Industry. TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, Vol. 15, No. 4, doi:10.12716/1001.15.04.14, pp. 817-824, 2021
Authors in other databases:
Badri Tetemadze:
Inga Bartusevičiene:

Other publications of authors:

M. Baldauf, R. Baumler, A. Ölçer, T. Nakazawa, K. Benedict, S. Fischer, M. Schaub

File downloaded 364 times








Important: TransNav.eu cookie usage
The TransNav.eu website uses certain cookies. A cookie is a text-only string of information that the TransNav.EU website transfers to the cookie file of the browser on your computer. Cookies allow the TransNav.eu website to perform properly and remember your browsing history. Cookies also help a website to arrange content to match your preferred interests more quickly. Cookies alone cannot be used to identify you.
Akceptuję pliki cookies z tej strony