ISWAN launched a new survey to understand the impact that the rapid technological changes to decarbonize maritime are having on seafarers’ job satisfaction and wellbeing at sea.
In recent years, seafaring has undergone huge technological change, as the maritime sector begins to respond to the climate emergency and the urgent need to decarbonize shipping. Seafarers are at the heart of this transformation, notes ISWAN, and are being called upon to rapidly adapt to operating new technological systems onboard and dealing with the challenges of working with new and often potentially hazardous fuels.
The drive to decarbonise brings with it the enormous challenges of ensuring that seafarers have the training and skills that they need to manage new technologies and fuels safely, ISWAN warns.
From contact with seafarers through its helplines and regional casework, the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) is concerned that the changes that the maritime sector is undergoing in order to achieve net zero carbon by 2050 could be placing additional stress on seafarers’ mental health and potentially further eroding their wellbeing at work.
In response, ISWAN is launching a new survey that seeks to better understand the impact that the adoption of new decarbonizing technologies and the associated inspection regimes are having on the welfare of both seafarers and onshore staff.
As well as understanding the difference – whether positive or negative – that technological change is making to working in maritime, the survey also seeks to gain insight from seafarers and shore-based staff into how shipping companies and crewing agents can best support them to adapt to the rapid pace of change.
ISWAN’s new survey aims to shed light on how the shipping industry can give seafarers the support they need to put into practice the technological changes that will be needed to meet international decarbonisation goals.
… said Chirag Bahri, ISWAN’s International Operations Manager
ISWAN’s survey can be accessed here, and is open to all seafarers and shore-based staff.
