Seafarer happiness affected by concerns about piracy and war risk

The Mission to Seafarers’ report on seafarer happiness in 2023 showed a steady decline throughout the year, with happiness levels dropping from 7.1 in the first quarter to 6.36 in the fourth quarter. Factors contributing to this decline included feelings of being overworked and underappreciated, social isolation, lack of shore leave, and stagnant wages. Concerns were also raised about security risks in the Red Sea and their impact on trip length and overall certainty.

The report highlighted that happiness was lower across seven of the ten questions asked by the Seafarers Happiness Index, with minor increases in connectivity and access to shore leave. However, the sharpest drops in happiness were recorded for social interaction and training. The Revd Canon Andrew Wright, Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers, expressed disappointment in the downward trend in seafarer happiness and emphasized the need for more investment in the wellbeing of crew members.

The report also noted concerns about the security risks facing seafarers, as well as the ongoing challenges of an unsustainable workload, insufficient shore leave, limited rest hours, financial concerns, and the burden of separation from family. The overall picture remains concerning, despite some ship owners and managers making efforts to invest in the wellbeing of their crew.

Source .