In an exclusive interview to SAFETY4SEA, Mrs Sara Baade, CEO at Sailors’ Society makes an assessment of the pandemic impact so far, noting as a key opportunity the fact that the COVID-19 has put the spotlight on seafarer mental health and wellbeing.
It’s also given everyone an insight into the isolation and loneliness that seafarers can experience daily, Mrs Baade mentions and suggests ways to address these important issues further, make them priorities for the industry and help seafarers to get over the implications of this severe lockdown.
SAFETY4SEA: What are the key challenges of this pandemic crisis for the shipping industry? Do you see any opportunities?
Sara Baade: From a welfare perspective, the key challenges are keeping the 1.6 million seafarers who fuel the shipping industry safe and well, as well as facilitating crew changes. Seafarers transport 90 per cent of goods, including vital PPE, food and medical equipment, around the world and this has continued throughout the pandemic. The mental and physical stresses they’ve experienced have been well beyond the everyday challenges of life at sea – and for many it’s been too much. Seafarers haven’t just had to face the physical threat of contracting the virus as they travel from port-to-port but have found themselves at the mercy of constantly changing rules, which have significantly disrupted the ability of seafarers to leave their ships. Many haven’t been able to set foot on dry land for months – and a large number haven’t been able to go home when their contracts have ended. They’re fatigued, anxious and worried about loved ones back home.
The figures are constantly changing as restrictions are imposed or lifted in different countries, but at its peak some 400,000 seafarers were stranded on board ships past the end of their contracts – some for as long as 17 months. A similar number were stuck at home, unable to physically get to a ship in order to do their jobs. This has been financially devastating and we have seen a dramatic rise in the numbers of people applying for emergency welfare grants because they can’t afford their bills. On the plus side, the past year has pushed organisations to adapt and we’ve followed suit, adjusting our traditional operations where needed, augmenting our digital welfare assistance including our enhanced 24/7 helpline and instant chat service, and developing new services, such as ShipConnect where we provide regular virtual support to crew on board. We’ve continued to ship visit and meet with families in person where restrictions allow and following health protocols – something that is of great help and comfort to them when they are in crisis.
S4S: What are currently the alarming issues with regards to seafarers’ health and their life onboard amid the crew change crisis?
S.B.: Seafarers have found it particularly difficult to access vaccines due to the transient nature of seafaring and can struggle to get medical care if they fall ill on board. If it’s suspected coronavirus, the whole crew has to quarantine, sometimes with very limited medical supplies. Last year, we provided basic medication to 450 seafarers – the majority of whom were showing Covid symptoms, who were stranded off the coast of the remote Andaman Islands and didn’t even have access to painkillers. Even if their symptoms aren’t related to coronavirus, restrictions have meant that they often can’t leave the ship if they are ill and doctors are unable to come on board, which means they could be in considerable pain or suffering from a serious illness and unable to receive treatment. Mentally, seafarers are suffering the results of an extreme version of lockdown – being stuck on board the same ship for months with the same small group of colleagues, unable to see their loved ones or even set foot on dry land. Add to this the anxiety about how their families are at home and the pressure caused by months of shift work without a break and there has been a considerable mental toll on crews. It’s difficult to get accurate statistics because of the global, disjointed nature of the shipping industry, but we’re receiving reports of increasing depression, anxiety and a rise in the number of suicides on board.
S4S: What has been the experience of Sailors’ Society with respect to crew welfare so far? What are the key priorities of your organization towards that issue?
S.B.: We’ve been caring for seafarers, their families and communities for more than 200 years now and have responded to several global crises in that time. Mental health is one of our top priorities and we’ve stepped up our wellness initiatives, including our free Wellness at Sea Awareness Campaign, which we developed in response to the pandemic, offering practical advice and signposting information on mental health and wellbeing. It was so well-received last year that we’ve expanded it to reach out to families and shore staff, as well as seafarers, and are delighted to be working with more than 50 companies this time round. We’re also rolling out mental health awareness, stress management and family resiliency programmes for seafarers on shore, their families and communities in the Philippines. Through all our activities, from chaplaincy through to our wellness and crisis response work, we want to support seafarer wellbeing across every area of their lives and careers, giving them the best opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling career at sea.
S4S: Are you satisfied with industry stakeholders’ response on the issue of crew welfare until today? Where should ship operators focus on and how could your organization help?
S.B.: We’re leaps and bounds ahead of where we were even just a few years in terms of crew welfare, yet there’s still a long way to go. Through our Wellness at Sea programme, we can work with businesses to create a bespoke service and provide the tools to help crews and their company to thrive (sailors-society.org/wellness). The excellent uptake of our new Wellness at Sea Awareness Campaign is a really good sign for the future and a platform for us to continue to care for crews, either through their companies or directly where the crew is without a company.
S4S: How optimistic are you with the latest developments on seafarers’ vaccination globally and what needs to be done further towards that end?
S.B.: Seafarers are in a unique position where they’re often unable to do their jobs without proof of vaccine but they struggle to access vaccinations due to the mobile nature of their role. We’re pleased to see more nations making vaccines available to seafarers as a priority group and we hope others will follow suit. We strongly believe that recognising seafarers as key workers and giving them priority access to vaccines is essential for them to be able to carry out their job safely and to help the shipping industry to recover.
S4S: In your view, has the industry handled the COVID-19 crisis effectively so far? What are the lessons learned? Where could we improve in the future?
S.B.: The pandemic has thrown the whole world into turmoil – and on the whole the industry has managed this as best it can. It has been astounding to see the way that the shipping industry and the individuals that power it have responded, with great resilience and flexibility. It’s highlighted the importance of crew wellbeing for the smooth and safe functioning of a vessel and the industry as a whole. We’re also well prepared should such an event happen again in future. However, the crew change crisis has had, and is still having, a massive impact. A unified, collaborative cross-government approach is needed. Many global governments have ignored calls to give seafarers key worker status and allow crew changes. That’s why, along with the other members of the International Christian Maritime Association and more than 400 other companies and organisations, we’ve signed the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change, calling on governments, the maritime industry and other key stakeholders to work together to give seafarers the key worker recognition they deserve, as well as other actions including priority access to vaccines and facilitating crew changes.
S4S: If you could change one thing in the industry with respect to seafarers’ welfare, what would it be and why?
S.B.: If the pandemic has done anything positive at all, it’s put the spotlight on seafarer mental health and wellbeing, and hastened the industry to take steps to address the issue, helping to raise awareness, improve access to help and reduce the stigma. It’s also given everyone an insight into the isolation and loneliness that seafarers can experience daily. Recognising the importance of wellbeing and also taking positive action to support it, whether providing easy access WiFi on board or robust crew-care programmes, has got to be a priority for the industry as a whole.
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
