2024 Crew Welfare Week: All wellness dimensions are equally important to seafarers’ overall wellbeing

Vadm. Eduardo Ma R. Santos, President, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), highlighted that seafarers move the world but there are challenges that impact their mental and physical wellbeing. According to Santos, enhancing crew welfare is essential for smooth operations. He also pointed out the need to train and upskill seafarers on the new reality that decarbonization and digitalization bring. Additionally, the importance of connectivity onboard was also touched on, as a means for seafarers to contact their loved ones and improve their mental wellbeing by reducing the feeling of isolation. Finally, he advocated for a more inclusive environment that cares for all aspects of seafarers’ wellbeing, including their mental health. Prioritizing the welfare of the crew is not just a duty but a reflection of our dedication to building a better maritime industry, Santos concluded.

Session #1: Ship Managers Session – Panel Discussion

Ship managers and operators should strive to focus on initiatives that support both the physical and mental well-being of their crew members onboard, thus ensuring a holistic approach. In the first panel, moderated by Namrata Nadkarni, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Intent Communications Ltd, the following ship managers shared their perspectives on crew welfare: Capt. Faouzi Fradi, Director, Crewing and Training, Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd.;  Priyanka Gupta, HR Director (Crew Management), Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (India) Pvt Ltd;  Dimitris Patrikios, Business Advisor, V. Ships Greece Ltd.; and Sivanand Ray, General Manager, Pacific Basin Shipping (HK) Limited.

Session #2: Human Sustainability in Shipping

Danielle Centeno, Loss Prevention Executive, The American Club, highlighted the importance of proper leadership and mentorship programs to ensure seafarers receive appropriate treatment and education. She emphasized that inspiring leaders who maintain close relationships with the crew foster open communication, enhancing safety by encouraging everyone to speak up. Additionally, mentorship allows seafarers to learn from experienced crew members, providing a comprehensive understanding of their tasks through direct interaction and guidance.

Isabelle Rickmers, Founder and CEO, TURTLE GmbH, explained that human sustainability is both a social responsibility and a catalyst for innovation in the maritime industry. She emphasized that implementing effective environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices helps companies understand their current standing and adapt as needed. Additionally, she highlighted the importance of a diverse workforce in promoting equity and inclusion within the maritime sector.

Giovanni Tuapin, President, Hartman Crew Philippines, Inc., discussed the pivotal role seafarers play in championing human sustainability within the maritime industry. He emphasized how seafarers, as the frontline workforce, are crucial in implementing sustainable practices at sea. He also pointed out the crucial role of providing comprehensive training and resources to ensure their well-being and resilience, which in turn fosters a more responsible and innovative maritime sector.

Session #3: Crew Welfare – Panel Discussion

Crew welfare encompasses all aspects of ensuring the health, safety, and overall well-being of crew members working aboard ships. This includes providing adequate living conditions, promoting physical and mental health initiatives, ensuring fair employment practices, and offering access to essential amenities and support services while at sea. The panel, moderated by Capt. Hari Subramaniam, Regional Head Business Relations, The Shipowners’ Club, involved the following participants in the discussions around crew welfare: Erik Green, CEO, Partner, Green-Jakobsen; Capt. Konstantinos G. Karavasilis, Regional Director, Loss Prevention, UK P&I Club; Kostas Katsoulieris, P&I Claims Director – Greece, NorthStandard; Nikolaos Koletsis, Senior Policy Officer for Maritime Transport, European Transport Workers’ Federation; Isabelle Rickmers, Founder and CEO, TURTLE GmbH.

Session #4: Crew Welfare

Erik Green, CEO, Partner, Green-Jakobsen, delivered insights on the importance of psychological safety from a human performance perspective during his presentation. He emphasized how cultivating an environment where crew members feel psychologically safe enhances overall performance and operational outcomes in maritime settings. He also underscored the significance of psychological safety as a foundational element in building a resilient workforce, highlighting its positive impact on teamwork, decision-making processes, and overall crew well-being.

Nikolaos Koletsis, Senior Policy Officer for Maritime Transport at the European Transport Workers’ Federation, addressed the critical issue of hours of rest and work as well as seafarers’ fatigue during his presentation. He underscored the challenges faced by seafarers due to irregular work schedules and the impact of fatigue on their performance and well-being. Nikolaos Koletsis also noted that there is a clear lack of enforcement of the requirements of the existing legislation on work and rest hours, and at the same time a need for a legislative reform in this field.

The day concluded with the nomination ceremony of the 2024 Crew Welfare Awards, where various organizations were recognized for their efforts in promoting crew welfare. These awards highlight contributions to a safer, more sustainable, and humane industry. Click here to find out more.

Session #5: Industry Stakeholders – Panel Discussion​

Exchanging ideas and resources to foster better collaboration among stakeholders is a crucial aspect for the wide implementation of welfare initiatives and for the general improvement of various aspects of the maritime industry. The panel discussion, moderated by Carleen Lyden Walker, CEO, Morgan Marketing & Communications involved the following participants who highlighted the importance of industry stakeholders’ participation in improving crew welfare: Jeffrey Parfitt, Head of Safety & Environment, The Nautical Institute; George Pitaoulis, Head of Marine Personnel, Nakilat; Bingbing Song, Head, Maritime Training and Human Element, Maritime Safety Division, IMO; Giovanni Tuapin, President, Hartman Crew Philippines, Inc.

Session #6: Physical Wellness

Dr. Christian Lubaton, Medical Director for Holistic Care, Nordic Medical Clinic, offered his valuable insight on crew welfare, especially surrounding maintaining good physical health onboard. He advocated for a holistic approach to fostering physical wellness, highlighting the significance of proper nutrition and regular exercise. Dr. Lubaton also introduced and suggested the Eat-Move-Sleep model, which emphasizes the need for adequate and quality rest time.

Capt. VS Parani, Vice President – Marine, Tufton Asset Management, explained why yoga can be extremely beneficial for seafarers to boost both their physical and mental wellbeing. According to Parani, yoga can have various health benefits from improving the immune system to reducing stress and anxiety, improving a person’s mood. He also showed some yoga poses that seafarers can practice onboard and stressed that seafarers could see great benefits if they took some time in their day to practice yoga.

Session #7: Physical Wellness – Panel Discussion​

Unfortunately, physical wellness is often neglected onboard both through the lack of nutritious food and the lack of access to medicine. However, the maritime industry is taking some steps and adopting initiatives to improve the crew’s physical wellness. The panel discussion, moderated by Sandra Psychogiou, Editor in Chief, SAFETY4SEA, offered valuable insight to viewers regarding the current challenges regarding seafarers’ physical health and ways that they can be overcome. There to offer their expertise were: Elisabeth Calbari, Founder & Executive Neuroleadership Consultant, Self Balance; Dr. Christian Lubaton, Medical Director for Holistic Care, Nordic Medical Clinic; Dr. William Moore, Global Loss Prevention Director, The American Club; Capt. VS Parani, Vice President Marine, Tufton Asset Management Ltd.

Session #8: Mental Wellness

Dr. Pennie Blackburn, Director and Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Waypoint Maritime CiC, delivered a compelling presentation on the significant impact of stress on seafarers’ welfare. She explained that stress not only affects mental health but also contributes to the development of various physical illnesses. Moreover, she noted that stress levels can increase the likelihood of accidents and injuries onboard. However, Dr. Blackburn emphasized that stress management is crucial and feasible and can significantly improve seafarers’ overall health and well-being.

Christopher L. Hall, Managing Director – Hong Kong, The American Club, pointed out the many reasons why phycological safety is paramount in enhancing team performance and wellbeing onboard. According to Hall, psychological safety is the most important factor for team success. In particular, the most successful teams allow members to take risks and be vulnerable without fear of negative consequences, which also significantly reduces the risks of accidents due to miscommunication. Furthermore, Hall noted that psychological safety attracts diversity, leading to better outcomes, retention and talent attraction.

Alexandra Kaloulis, Managing Director, I.M.E.Q. Center, presented findings from the WELL-BEING FOOTPRINT survey, which engaged seafarers across different vessel types. According to Kaloulis, the survey underscored the critical need for structured and comprehensive mental health policies within maritime settings. Furthermore, Alexandra Kaloulis highlighted the importance of conducting psychological risk assessments in ensuring the well-being of crew members.

Dr. Michela Terrei, Psychologist, I.M.A. Assessment and Training Center, Inc., gave an interesting presentation on the impact that stress has on career sustainability and crew wellbeing. As highlighted by Dr. Terrei, stress can seriously affect the crew’s wellbeing but, luckily, there are ways that stress can be managed. One of these ways, is through biofeedback, which provides seafarers with objective data about their physiological responses to stressors. They can see, for example, how their heart rate increases, or muscle tension rises in response to stress. Armed with real-time feedback, seafarers can learn and practice relaxation techniques to reduce stress responses, Dr. Terrei explained.

Session #9: Mental Wellness – Panel Discussion

The maritime industry is progressively making a turn in addressing mental wellness as a fundamental factor for a happy and safe crew. The panel discussion, moderated by Capt. VS Parani, Vice President Marine, Tufton Asset Management Ltd, shed further light on this subject, with the following professionals sharing their opinion on the matter: Dr. Pennie Blackburn, Director and Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Waypoint Maritime CiC; Caroline Jupe, CEO, International Maritime Rescue Federation; Alexandra Kaloulis, Managing Director, I.M.E.Q. Center; Güven Kale, Clinical Chief Officer, Mental Health Support Solutions.

Session #10: Seafarer Health – Panel Discussion

Occupational health and safety are paramount, ensuring seafarers are protected from work-related hazards and promoting practices that maintain their overall health and well-being throughout their careers. In a panel discussion moderated by Capt. Yves Vandenborn, Head of Loss Prevention Asia-Pacific, NorthStandard, the following experts gave their insights on what can be done to promote the health of the crew: Marinos Kokkinis, Managing Director, OneCare Group; Crystol Lasley, Marine Operations Director, AP Companies; Marios Minou, Deputy Crew Manager, Latsco Marine Management Inc; Adam Parnell, Director Maritime, CHIRP; Ronald Spithout , Managing Director, VIKAND; Sandra Welch, CEO, Seafarers Hospital Society.

Session #11: Soft Skills

Dr. Angelica Baylon, External Relations Director, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), spoke on the importance of cultivating soft skills such as effective communication and stress management in the maritime industry significantly enhances crew welfare. As Dr. Baylon noted, clear and open communication among crew members fosters a positive and supportive environment, resolves conflicts, and minimizes misunderstandings, ultimately promoting camaraderie on board. Moreover, developing soft skills related to stress management, such as resilience, self-awareness, and self-care, equips seafarers with essential tools to cope with the inherent pressures of their work at sea.

Session #12: Soft Skills – Panel Discussion

Investing in soft skills training is crucial for cultivating a skilled and resilient maritime workforce capable of meeting the industry’s complex demands and challenges. In a panel discussion, moderated by Capt. Andre L. LeGoubin, President, The Nautical Institute, the following experts elaborated on the importance of soft skills development and their numerous benefits: Dr. Angelica Baylon, External Relations Director, Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP); Panagiotis Kourkoumelis, Training and Development Manager, Kyklades Maritime Corporation; Adam Lewis, Head of Training and Development, Zodiac Maritime Limited; Capt. Nicolo S. Terrei, Managing Director, Augustea Ship Manning Phils. Inc.

Session #13: Focus Presentations

Jeffrey Parfitt, Head of Safety & Environment, The Nautical Institute, supported in his presentation that comprehensive training programs are essential to equip maritime crews with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle and manage these fuels safely, minimize risks, and ensure operational efficiency. Furthermore, Jeffrey Parfitt advocated that proactive industry measures in preparing seafarers for the widespread adoption of alternative fuels, will likely promote sustainable and safe practices in maritime operations.

Capt. Mohd Salleh, Specialist (Navigation & Shiphandling) & Special Projects, Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) delivered an insightful presentation the upcoming review of the STCW Convention and Code. His session explored the challenges facing maritime training and certification, including technological advancements, automation, environmental regulations, and seafarer well-being. Capt. Salleh highlighted the need for modernized training standards and enhanced safety measures. He also emphasized the involvement of key stakeholders in this journey to more effective training.

Session #14: Women at sea – Panel Discussion

The maritime industry has historically been male dominated. But, as times change and the world progresses, fostering a welcome environment for women onboard can bear great fruits for the industry. In this panel, moderated by Nicola Good, External Communications Director, Lloyd’s Register, the following maritime professionals shared their views on how the maritime industry can achieve a more diverse crew: Alison Cusack, Principal Lawyer, Cusack and Co; Sanjam Gupta, Founder, Maritime SheEO; Holli B. Packer, Associate, BLANKROME; Sue Terpilowski, Equity Index Lead, Women in Transport. 

Following the last panel discussion, concluding the event, Apo Belokas, Managing Editor, SAFETY4SEA, said that “The message of the event is loud and clear; we need to continue making progress on crew welfare, considering all dimensions of wellness and providing the best initiatives and conditions that will make their work and life onboard a positive experience, despite all challenges.”