The Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI) Quarter 2 2021 results are a measure of the happiness level of seafarers amidst the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with severe global and maritime industry issues again being brought to…
The Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI) Quarter 2 2021 results are a measure of the happiness level of seafarers amidst the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with severe global and maritime industry issues again being brought to the fore.
‘How happy with your workload?’ – This question saw results dip from 6.39 to 6/10.
Seafarers are naturally sandwiched between the demands of home and seafaring, but Covid-19 has seen the introduction of more regulations and restrictions exacerbating not only the stresses of longer contracts but the burden of increased administrative and paper work.
Previously there was a sense that office management and executives ashore were trying to back away from putting too much pressure on ships, but with ships currently receiving little to no visitors from office, seafarers are now getting bombarded with demands for information from the vessel.
So much so that merely by responding to emails adds to the already long working hours to the extent that ‘safety of the vessel is jeopardised with such workload’ confesses a seafarer.
With mounting day-to-day pressures, it leaves little to no time for anything else, impacting how training is perceived on board. The longer hours are impacting ability or willingness to train, or even be trained. Even the passion to learn has been overwhelmed by paperwork.
There is little to no time to think about self-improvement or that of others. Officers are too tired to teach and share their knowledge about working onboard and newcomers are too exhausted to be curious or to take advantage of the expertise.
Shore staff must tailor their expectations and interactions with crew onboard to a need-to basis and be conscientious in their approach to avoid asking for the same information repeatedly.
Standard Club is a signatory on the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change as well as a proud sponsor of the Seafarers Happiness Index, a report by Mission to Seafarers.
Source: The Standard Club
