UK based seafarers’ wellness organization ISWAN announced launch of a two-week digital campaign, aiming to highlight the importance of connecting with others for crew wellbeing.
The ‘Connecting Crew’ campaign, supported by the ICS and ITF, aims to emphasize the importance of connecting with others for our wellbeing, particularly during the current COVID-19 pandemic where shore leave is not possible and crew changes are slow.
Lack of team bonding and team activities were one of the main obstacles to social life onboard (16%) during a 2019 SAFETY4SEA poll.
It is vital now more than ever that seafarers have all of the available opportunities and support in strengthening relationships onboard, especially for those crew that have no option other than to remain onboard,
…ISWAN says.
The first week of the campaign is aimed at shipping companies, helping them to identify barriers to socializing on their ships and providing ideas to facilitate stronger relationships and connections onboard.
The second week will spark ideas for crew members on how to strengthen relationships with those both onboard and at home.
The campaign is on ISWAN’s social media platforms – Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn – using the hashtag #ConnectingCrew. ISWAN will upload all resources to the ISWAN website: seafarerswelfare.org/our-work/connecting-crew.
The campaign coincides with ISWAN’s ongoing Social Interaction Matters (SIM) Project, which aims to help shipping and ship management companies improve seafarers’ social interaction onboard using programmes with proven success, in order to positively impact the wellbeing of their crews.
