Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!)
Friday, May 2, 2025
SAFETY4SEA
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    lessons learned

    Lessons learned: Refrain from risky recreational activities

    internet mobile phone

    Gard: Road safety lessons for mobile phone use onboard

    Lessons learned: Closer assessment and vetting was required for crew competency

    Lessons learned: Don’t overlook secondary hazards

    connectivity

    Pilbara Ports take steps to enhance connectivity for seafarers

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    relax

    In the calm lies the cure: Exploring the parasympathetic nervous system

    malaria

    Navigating malaria at sea: Why prevention requires a rethink

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Developing soft skills in mariners

    mindfulness

    The new wave of Mindfulness: 7 Key trends

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    co2 carrier

    Europe’s first offshore CO₂ carrier to hit waters

    hydrogen

    BV joins European liquid hydrogen research program

    port of rotterdam

    Port of Rotterdam launches bid for reducing port emissions

    LNG

    US looks into updating LNG infrastructure

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    internet mobile phone

    Gard: Road safety lessons for mobile phone use onboard

    connectivity

    Pilbara Ports take steps to enhance connectivity for seafarers

    training simulators

    Companies shake hands for advanced training simulators

    seafarers gps

    NorthStandard: Key measures when the GPS fails

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    inspection

    Tokyo MoU Annual Report 2024

    malta flag

    Malta: New requirements for vessel registration and seaworthiness

    LPG tanker

    Bangladesh arrests LPG tanker following 2024 fire incident

    PSC training

    IMO conducts Port State Control training in Comoros

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Baltic Exchange

    Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 28 April – 2 May

    Syria

    CMA CGM invests $260 million in Syrian port development

    Odfjell: A global market-based measure with a carbon price is vital for industry’s energy efficiency

    GMF evaluates its impact regarding sustainability matters

    port of rotterdam

    Port of Rotterdam launches bid for reducing port emissions

  • Columns
    Achilles

    Achilles: Improving supply chain transparency can have a bottom line benefit

    port state control

    Linking ship to shore: Enabling direct communication between onboard crew with Port State Control

    eu shipping

    FuelEU maritime regulation and insights

    Trending Tags

    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Safety
    • All
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
    lessons learned

    Lessons learned: Refrain from risky recreational activities

    internet mobile phone

    Gard: Road safety lessons for mobile phone use onboard

    Lessons learned: Closer assessment and vetting was required for crew competency

    Lessons learned: Don’t overlook secondary hazards

    connectivity

    Pilbara Ports take steps to enhance connectivity for seafarers

  • SEAFiT
    • All
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
    relax

    In the calm lies the cure: Exploring the parasympathetic nervous system

    malaria

    Navigating malaria at sea: Why prevention requires a rethink

    Book Review: Building leaders the MMMA way

    Book Review: Developing soft skills in mariners

    mindfulness

    The new wave of Mindfulness: 7 Key trends

  • Green
    • All
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
    co2 carrier

    Europe’s first offshore CO₂ carrier to hit waters

    hydrogen

    BV joins European liquid hydrogen research program

    port of rotterdam

    Port of Rotterdam launches bid for reducing port emissions

    LNG

    US looks into updating LNG infrastructure

  • Smart
    • All
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
    internet mobile phone

    Gard: Road safety lessons for mobile phone use onboard

    connectivity

    Pilbara Ports take steps to enhance connectivity for seafarers

    training simulators

    Companies shake hands for advanced training simulators

    seafarers gps

    NorthStandard: Key measures when the GPS fails

  • Risk
    • All
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
    inspection

    Tokyo MoU Annual Report 2024

    malta flag

    Malta: New requirements for vessel registration and seaworthiness

    LPG tanker

    Bangladesh arrests LPG tanker following 2024 fire incident

    PSC training

    IMO conducts Port State Control training in Comoros

  • Others
    • All
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
    Baltic Exchange

    Baltic Exchange: Maritime market highlights 28 April – 2 May

    Syria

    CMA CGM invests $260 million in Syrian port development

    Odfjell: A global market-based measure with a carbon price is vital for industry’s energy efficiency

    GMF evaluates its impact regarding sustainability matters

    port of rotterdam

    Port of Rotterdam launches bid for reducing port emissions

  • Columns
    Achilles

    Achilles: Improving supply chain transparency can have a bottom line benefit

    port state control

    Linking ship to shore: Enabling direct communication between onboard crew with Port State Control

    eu shipping

    FuelEU maritime regulation and insights

    Trending Tags

    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • Events
  • Plus
No Result
View All Result
SAFETY4SEA

Wellness Corner: Jan Hoffmann, UNCTAD

by Jan Hoffmann
November 14, 2023
in Opinions
Wellness Corner: David Hammond, HRAS
FacebookTwitterEmailLinkedin

Dr. Jan Hoffmann, Head of the Trade Logistics Branch within the Division on Technology and Logistics at UNCTAD, associates wellness with harmony. He emphasizes that his well-being is linked to coherence across various aspects of his life—between actions and words, work and personal interests, his interests and those of his colleagues, and the alignment of what is beneficial for his body with what supports his mental well-being.

Recently, Jan has incorporated stretching into his daily routine, recognizing its positive impact on his physical health. He generously shares his unique experiences and travels through an engaging blog, featuring captivating photos and stories. In his view, for the maritime community, enhanced communication, monitoring, and tracking technologies are pivotal. These advancements, he believes, will strengthen the connection between shore and sea, ultimately contributing to improved well-being and an enriched overall working experience.

SAFETY4SEA: What does ‘wellness’ mean to you? What do you do in your every day life to embrace wellness?
Jan Hoffmann: Perhaps “harmony” is the best word to describe when I feel well. Harmony, or consistency, or coherence between what I do and what I say, between work and personal interests, between my interests and colleagues’ interests, between what is good for my body and what is good for my mind. I choose my battles.

RelatedNews

In the calm lies the cure: Exploring the parasympathetic nervous system

Navigating malaria at sea: Why prevention requires a rethink

S4S: What are the two things to do that can make you feel happy after a challenging day?
J.H.: The harmony between 1) walking and 2) listening to books. I walk from and to the office and arrive energized at home, to be with family after disconnecting from the office during a 30 minute walk along green parks and Geneva’s international organizations. Listening to an average of one book per week on audible.

S4S: What is the most worthwhile wellbeing investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
J.H.: I hate wasting time and still today am happy that at the age of 16 I took a course in 10 finger type writing. Later, I learned all the tricks of MsWord styles and automation, plus shortcuts for the smartphone email app. Personal productivity and an empty in-box allows me to focus on what matters.

S4S: What do you do to keep balance between your personal and business life?
J.H.: A “balance” sounds like there is an underlying conflict. I rather like to believe that I have a paid hobby: Travelling the globe meeting amazing people. Visiting ports with my Nikon, and then create photo calendars for family and friends. My family knows my colleagues, and my colleagues come to my home for a regular summer BBQ. It is a way to have harmony (not a balance) between work and personal life.

S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your personal life?
J.H.: Following backpain during Covid (no walking and bad seating), I started to do some funny gymnastics and stretching for 15 minutes every day. My physiotherapist told me to do this every day for the rest of my life. And it seems to work – so far: I am still alive.

S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape with regards to wellbeing?
J.H.: The difference between work on board and ashore is getting blurred. Better communication, monitoring and tracking technologies a) allow officers and seafarers to see the commercial and operational context of their journey, and b) staff ashore can see what is happening to the journey, the engine, the cargo, and the crew on the vessels. This development offers potential for an enriched work experience, which – I think – can also improve wellbeing.

S4S: What wellness-promoting initiatives would you like to see in the workplace?
J.H.: As organizations grapple with staff working more often from home, we all need to learn from experiences. Working from different locations has advantages and disadvantages, and employers should support staff through flexibility, creative ways of monitoring productivity (sitting in an office 9 to 5 is not enough), and in my view also financially to ensure adequate home-office equipment and space.

S4S: What is the one thing that you are feeling grateful at the moment?
J.H.: At this moment I am grateful for the calypso music in the background, while I sit on a hotel balcony in Barbados (yes, travelling for work), filling out a questionnaire from Safety4Seas, which reminds me how lucky I am.

S4S: What are your hobbies/ favorite activities?
J.H.: Walking while listening to books, photography, playing just4fun with family, climbing up gantry cranes (https://janhoffmann.live/2023/11/07/the-port-crane-collection) and empirical research on hair cuts (https://janhoffmann.live/2016/04/30/hair-cuts).

S4S: What is your personal motto?
J.H.: I am Cancer, and we Cancers do not believe in horoscopes.

 

 

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 only.

Wellness Corner: Jan Hoffmann, UNCTADWellness Corner: Jan Hoffmann, UNCTAD
Wellness Corner: Jan Hoffmann, UNCTADWellness Corner: Jan Hoffmann, UNCTAD
Tags: corporate lifewellness at seaWellness Corner
Previous Post

EMSA releases guidance on the safety of battery systems onboard

Next Post

MSC Cruises orders two LNG-powered World Class vessels

Jan Hoffmann

Jan Hoffmann

Jan joined the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 2003 and became Head of the organization’s Trade Logistics Branch in 2016. The Branch is implementing multilateral transport and trade facilitation capacity building programmes, as well as regional and national projects in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Jan is co-author and coordinator of the annual UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport, created and co-edits the quarterly Transport and Trade Facilitation Newsletter, and initiated the Maritime Country Profiles, the International Transport Costs Data Set, and the quarterly Liner Shipping Connectivity Index. Previously, Jan spent six years with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago de Chile, and two years with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London and Santiago. Prior to this, he held part time positions as assistant professor, import-export agent, seafarer, translator, and consultant. For eight years, he also worked part time for the family tramp shipping business Hoffmann Shipping, based in Horneburg, Germany, with a tweendecker registered in St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda. Jan has studied in Germany, United Kingdom, and Spain, and holds a doctorate degree in Economics from the University of Hamburg. His work has resulted in numerous UN and peer reviewed publications, lectures, technical missions, data bases, and electronic newsletters. Jan is member of AJSL, FFSC, IJSTL, INCU, JST, MEL, MPM, and the Propeller Club of Geneva. From 2014 to 2018, he was president of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME). Dr Hoffmann has been to 130 countries and had his hair cut in 80. He has three sons and one wife.

Related News

Shortlisted nominees announced for the 2025 Crew Welfare Awards
Shipping

Shortlisted nominees announced for the 2025 Crew Welfare Awards

April 22, 2025
mindfulness
Intellectual

The new wave of Mindfulness: 7 Key trends

April 16, 2025
2025 SEAFiT Crew Survey
Seafarers

2025 SEAFiT Crew Survey: What progress has the industry made in supporting seafarers’ resilience?

April 10, 2025
happiness
Mental

Key trends in happiness: The power of caring, sharing, and social connections

April 9, 2025
internet
Seafarers

SAFETY4SEA embraces growing push for seafarers’ right to internet

April 8, 2025
Philippines
Seafarers

5 reasons why the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers ushers in positive change

April 4, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore more

No Result
View All Result
MARITIME EVENTS

Explore

  • Safety
  • SEAFiT
  • Green
  • Smart
  • Risk
  • Others
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

Useful Links

  • About
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Policies
  • Advertising
  • Content Marketing
  • Contact

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA

Manage your privacy
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show (non-) personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Manage options
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • Safety
    • Accidents
    • Alerts
    • Loss Prevention
    • Maritime Health
    • Regulation
    • Safety
    • Seafarers
    • Security
  • SEAFiT
    • Intellectual
    • Mental
    • Physical
    • Social
    • Spiritual
  • Green
    • Arctic
    • Ballast
    • Emissions
    • Fuels
    • Green Shipping
    • Pollution
    • Ship Recycling
    • Technology
  • Smart
    • Connectivity
    • Cyber Security
    • E-navigation
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Maritime Software
    • Smart
  • Risk
    • CIC
    • Detentions
    • Fines
    • PSC Case Studies
    • PSC Focus
    • Vetting
  • Others
    • Diversity in shipping
    • Maritime Knowledge
    • Offshore
    • Ports
    • Shipping
    • Sustainability
    • Videos
  • Columns
    • Book Review
    • Career Paths
    • Human Performance
    • Industry Voices
    • Interviews
    • Maripedia
    • Maritime History
    • Opinions
    • Regulatory Update
    • Resilience
    • Seafarers Stories
    • SeaSense
    • Tip of the day
    • Training & Development
    • Wellness Corner
    • Wellness Tips
  • SAFETY4SEA Events
  • SAFETY4SEA Plus Subscription

© 2025 SAFETY4SEA