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    Lessons learned: Loss of redundancy in diving bell launch and recovery PLC system

    Lessons learned: Steam and water released from filter

    Lessons learned: Disposable vape self-ignition

    maritime mental health

    Seafarers Happiness Index 2023Q1: Seafarers are unsatisfied with onboard fitness and health benefits

    Cargo fires: An issue that needs to be tackled

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    Book Review: A role model for ship managers

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    contemplation as a spiritual practice

    Contemplation: Directing the mind towards what’s important

    power of hug

    The power of hugging: How it affects our health

    Impostor Syndrome

    Mental Health Focus: How to deal with Impostor Syndrome

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    HHI wins AiP from KR for tank shape optimized for liquefied fuels

    HHI wins AiP from KR for tank shape optimized for liquefied fuels

    Four major parties to assess emissions throughout the life cycle of LNG carrier

    Four major parties to assess emissions throughout the life cycle of LNG carrier

    Port of Klaipeda and Proman shake hands on methanol bunkering

    Port of Klaipeda and Proman shake hands on methanol bunkering

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    U.S. Senators introduce legislation to eliminate in-port ship emissions

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    AMSA bans bulk carrier Babuza Wisdom for 90 days

    tanker arrested in singapore

    AMSA convicts master and company after pilot ladder injury

    amsa planned maintenance fic

    OCIMF Annual Report 2023: Key amendments and additions under SIRE 2.0

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    Port of Klaipeda and Proman shake hands on methanol bunkering

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    StenaRoRo’s ESG reporting making leaps due to Mercy Ships partnership

    StenaRoRo’s ESG reporting making leaps due to Mercy Ships partnership

    IWSA opens voting for “Wind Ship – the Future” poster design contest

    IWSA opens voting for “Wind Ship – the Future” poster design contest

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    Back To The Future: How Rotor Sails are now a credible option to tackle climate challenge

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SAFETY4SEA

ISWAN: Key factors that ensure crew’s happiness levels go beyond legislation

by Karin Orsel
March 9, 2023
in Opinions
PTC: Greater visibility is needed to reinforce industry’s image
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In an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA, Mrs Karin Orsel, who is the new Chair of the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) from January 2023, reveals her plans to raise ISWAN’s profile to improve living and working conditions for seafarers and their families, highlighting the power of collaboration.

‘’In challenging times we can find strength in each other’’, Mrs Orsel concludes while she acknowledges that there are several factors not enshrined in MLC and are vital for a happy crew onboard.

 

SAFETY4SEA: What are your top priorities in the agenda taking the helm as Chair of international maritime charity ISWAN?

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Karin Orsel (KO): As a provider of invaluable welfare services and support for seafarers and their families, it is crucial for ISWAN to be financially and operationally sustainable. I will work with ISWAN’s board of trustees and staff to reduce the organisation’s reliance on grant funding – something which is more than achievable with the growth of ISWAN’s commissioned services such as its Maritime Mental Health Awareness Training and bespoke helplines for clients. I will also work to help ISWAN achieve its other three-year organisational goals, including developing new initiatives informed by ISWAN’s data and current trends and issues in the industry, and raising ISWAN’s profile as a catalyst for delivering change to improve the lives of seafarers and their families.

 

S4S: What are the main challenges you are facing in your new role?

KO: Creating awareness of the existence of ISWAN and all the important work ISWAN is doing for seafarers and their families. During the pandemic more and more industry partners stood up and realised we need to step up and make sure that we take good care of our crew.

 

S4S: How does a happy crew onboard look like? What are the top 5 factors that define crew happiness?

KO: You cannot have a happy crew without the foundations of a safe workplace, decent working and living conditions, sufficient rest hours and other welfare provisions which are set out in the MLC 2006. However, there are other factors not enshrined in law which affect seafarers’ mental health and therefore a crew’s happiness levels.

With this in mind, I think the key characteristics of a happy crew would be:

  1. Cohesive – a strong, connected team with members who support and look out for each other
  2. High level of job satisfaction – a sense of achievement / appreciation
  3. Resilience – able to cope with the stresses and challenges of the job
  4. Well supported – by both strong onboard leadership and management ashore
  5. Motivated – a sense of purpose

 

S4S: What are currently the hurdles for enhanced crew welfare onboard and what needs to change to enhance working and living conditions onboard?

KO: The ‘excuse’ used often is a lack of space or time, while the outcome of our Social Interaction Matters (SIM) Project clearly gives guidance on how to improve the crew welfare by being creative and giving the crew on board the resources.

 

S4S: What would it take for the maritime industry to achieve diversity, equality, and inclusion? What role does management play in this shift?

KO: We need to look inward to identify and challenge our own unconscious biases, and in turn, those ingrained in our company policies and processes. Management needs to demonstrate strong leadership in this by making a clear commitment to making our industry a fairer and more inclusive place and setting an example for everyone else to follow. Efforts must be transparent and management must be held accountable for achieving clearly defined equity, equality, diversity and inclusion (EEDI) goals within their company.

 

S4S: Do you have any projects/ plans that you would like to share with industry stakeholders?

KO: ISWAN will be making some exciting developments in 2023. Live trials will be held on board active vessels to put into action the guidance and recommendations published last June as part of ISWAN’s Social Interaction Matters (SIM) Project and evaluate their effectiveness. One of ISWAN’s assets is the data and insights it gathers through its helpline services for seafarers and their families, and the organisation will be finding new ways to share these insights for the benefit of the industry. ISWAN will also be expanding its network with a drive to recruit new members and by forging new partnerships with other organisations working for the welfare of seafarers.

 

S4S: What is your key message to industry stakeholders and people onboard to foster resilience in these challenging times?

KO: We can achieve more if we work together. This is true for companies and organisations, who can share knowledge and best practice and strengthen each other’s efforts, and for seafarers themselves, who can look out for others who might be struggling and find support in those around them. We are all part of this industry and we all want the same thing – for it to thrive – so in challenging times we can find strength in each other.

 

The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes discussion purposes only.

Tags: InterviewsISWANlife onboardwellbeingwellness at sea
Karin Orsel

Karin Orsel

Karin Orsel is founder and CEO of MF Shipping Group and partly owns and manages a fleet of 54 vessels. Oil product/chemical tankers, RoRo, Ropax, multipurpose vessels, self-unloaders, and cement carriers. She’s known as a strong advocate for the advancement of the Maritime Industry, Diversity & Inclusivity and developing Mental Health awareness is high on her agenda. Orsel currently serves as Vice Chair of ECSA, Board Member of the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners , Board Member of ICS, Member of the ExCo of INTERTANKO, Trustee of ISWAN, on the Board of Directors of BIMCO and as Ambassador for WISTA International.

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