A joint report from the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and the World Maritime University highlights alarming trends regarding shore leave for seafarers. Over a quarter of seafarers report having no shore leave during their contracts, which average 6.6 months. Additionally, one-third manage to go ashore only once or twice during this period.
When shore leave is granted, it is often brief. An overwhelming 93.5% of these leave periods last less than six hours, with nearly half being under three hours. Certain groups, including officers, offshore vessel crews, and tanker personnel, face the most significant challenges in accessing shore leave.
Barriers to shore leave include minimal crew sizes, heavy workloads, stringent port security, and limited docking time. The report underscores the urgent need for action from all maritime stakeholders to address these issues. It emphasizes the importance of prioritizing crew well-being, enhancing vessel safety, and improving retention rates, especially in light of impending labor shortages in the maritime industry.
