Leadership plays a crucial role in sailing a harmonious ship and supporting seafarers in their challenging roles at sea, according to Captain Henrik Jensen, Managing Director of Danica Crewing Specialists.

As the global shipping industry marks Day of the Seafarer on June 25th , with this year’s theme of “Your Voyage, Then and Now”, Capt Jensen said: “Good leadership is vital in a high-pressure workplace like a ship, particularly among senior officers who could be leading a crew of 20 people, some of whom may be feeling quite stressed. Ships’ Masters do a great job and this is a good opportunity to celebrate their skills as we applaud all seafarers.”

To celebrate seafarer journeys, Danica is encouraging its crew members to share their stories online, using this year’s hashtag #seafarerjourney.

A qualified nautical captain, his own voyage has included extensive sea-going experience, particularly on offshore vessels. Coming ashore he held senior positions with leading shipmanagement companies, specialising in marine human resources, before founding Danica Crewing Specialists which supplies international crew, particularly from Eastern Europe, to a wide range of ocean-going vessels.

Mr Jensen was at the forefront in providing support to crew impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, especially crew change restrictions and Covid-19 vaccination. With offices in Ukraine he is now instrumental in providing support to displaced seafarers and their families, speaking out on behalf of crew impacted by the war in Ukraine and protecting his operational staff there. “People are important to me,” he commented. “This industry is all about the people we work alongside and successful businesses are built on relationships and mutual trust.”