Seafarers’ wellness depends on several pillars such as good work-life balance, regular communication with their family members, quality of life onboard, job satisfaction, better internet facility, strong shipboard relationships etc.
At the same time, isolation, loneliness, lack of shore leave, fear of job loss and separation from relatives, add pressure to seafarers’ overall wellbeing.
According to a study on seafarers’ mental health, conducted by IOSH, the Chartered body for health and safety professionals, there is little consensus over which roles onboard carry higher challenges for mental health. However, there is agreement that risk exposure in terms of mental ill health does vary with rank and role on board.
As we know, seafaring is a tradition that encompasses a variety of professions and ranks. Each of these roles, carries unique responsibilities that are integral to the successful operation of a vessel. A ship’s crew can generally be divided into four main categories: the deck department, the engineering department, the steward’s department, and other.
The different ranks of seafarers
- Master
- Chief Mate (also called Chief Officer)
- Second Mate (also called Second Officer)
- Third Mate (also called Third Officer)
- Deck Cadet
- Chief Engineer
- Second Engineer
- Third Engineer
Speaking of ranks, there is evidence that in some roles seafarers may be particularly prone to emotional exhaustion and ‘burnout’. As IOSH explained, shift work (practiced more frequently by some ranks than others on board) has been identified as a risk factor to seafarers’ wellness.
What is more, Standard Club through its report on seafarers’ wellbeing, highlighted that job roles on board ships that are more sedentary, expose staff to greater risk of lifestyle related medical conditions. In addition, in our latest Safety4sea Crew Wellness Survey, officers seemed to be less satisfied with their job performance, as they marked a satisfaction level of 81.5%, while ratings noted 84.3%.
Generally, as officers have been involved with ships and voyages for longer periods than ratings, they may have more exposure to pressure caused by their duties and the feedback they receive from the shore managing companies.
Another factor that seems to play a major role on how a seafarer feels onboard, is the department. Namely, catering department seemed the most satisfied, followed by engine and deck department.
At the same time, Happiness Index for 2021 published by the Mission to Seafarers revealed that there was a worrying trend in responses from deck cadets. Comments reflected an increase in pressure and less attention on training and mentorship onboard.
We received our usual wide spread of seafarers across all ranks and departments. Deck crews were collectively the best represented once more with 18% of the total responses, though we did see a rise in the number of deck officers engaging.
..the Mission To Seafarers said.
In contrast to previous reports, engineering crew out-performed deck, whilst officers were marginally happier than those in crew ranks. Concluding, bulk carriers came in top for overall happiness, something which has not always been the case, though container ships were a close second. Tanker levels dipped, and it was pleasing to note both a higher return in responses from offshore crews and that they were feeling generally happier.
