Seafarers Happiness Index Reveals Another Decline In 2023

The report via Mission to Seafarers charted a drop in happiness in 2023, starting at 7.1 in the first quarter to 6.77 in Q2 and 6.6 in Q3. In the latest Q4 report, it was 6.36. The factors that weigh on the index numbers have varied, including consumers constantly fighting the feeling of being overworked and underappreciated, social isolation, inadequate shore leave, and stagnating wages. The report noted that toward the end of the reporting period, concerns had been raised by the survey respondents regarding the security scenario in the Red Sea and its impact on the trip length and general certainty. The authors mentioned that the effect on seafarers is known to be reflected in the Q1 report of 2024.

Across the ten questions that were asked via the Seafarers Happiness Index, happiness was reported to be lower through seven but higher on two but remained the same on one. A minor rise was noticed for connectivity, which went up to 7.0 from 6.81 recorded in Q3 of 2023, even though problems were reported with slow, limited, and unreliable connections and high data costs. Connectivity was still crucial in seafarers opting for a particular vessel or firm.

Access to shore leave was the other increase in the report, edging from 6.06 to 6.14. Limiting factors for shore leave include the policies enforced in the COVID-era that haven’t been updated yet, port limitations, short vessel stays, and a lack of transport from the terminals. As heard before, there are allegations that some unscrupulous vessel agents have been taking advantage of the seafarers, which is a significant concern and needs to be addressed, as mentioned in the report.

The sharpest falls in happiness were observed for social interaction along with training. Opinion on the training quality was split, where some saw training access as an empowering career advantage. In contrast, others complained of lack of time to finish the training, inexperienced training staff, and some exercises that feel like tick-box tasks instead of a means of knowledge and understanding gain.

The training index dropped from 7.1 in Q3 of 2023 to 6.5 in the Q4. There is likely a blend of opinions about the volume of training offered, with some seafarers feeling overwhelmed by excess or what they consider “unnecessary training”. In contrast, others strongly urged more advanced and practical training, especially regarding new fuel, automation, and electronics, per the report.

Crew interactions fell from 7.42 to 6.97. Regular rosters of crew members were noted to positively impact morale as seafarers got to know one another and build mutual respect, incentivizing investments in training. On the opposing end, crew members observed others spending their time alone in cabins on gadgets or using the internet rather than socializing in the common spaces. The Revd Canon Andrew Wright, the Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers, has said that following the uptick in the happiness of seafarers in late 2022 following the eradication of COVID-19 restrictions, it is disappointing to witness such a downward trend in happiness over 2023.

If there were complacencies regarding the circumstances concerning seafarers all over the globe, the results would dispel that. It is known that some of the ship owners and managers are investing significantly in the well-being of their respective crews. Still, unfortunately, the overall picture continues to be largely concerning.

From perennial issues regarding unsustainable workload, inadequate shore leave, limited rest hours, financial matters, as well as the burden of separation from families and loved ones, there is now a rising concern over the security risks, whether in the waters of the Red Sea or the high-risk piracy waters. Seafarers feel that the world’s crises are the first and the hardest, as we have seen in recent years.

Reference: Seatrade Maritime

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