Seafarers are a special group of people who spend a lot of time working and living in the limited space on board. The line between work and life at sea is blurred and they hardly have the kind of social life that people have onshore – outdoor activities or family gatherings are practically impossible for seafarers. Even with improved welfare at sea and wireless internet available, it is difficult for them to pursue hobbies such as reading, drawing and playing music instruments due to shift schedules and occasionally bad weathers. Some are being or have already been isolated from normal social interactions. A positive social life on board is therefore important for seafarers to remain strong and healthy.

I. Socialization obstacles

SAFETY4SEA carried out a poll in 2019 in which several thousand seafarers from around the globe participated. Increased workload and the subsequent fatigue were reported the biggest obstacles for social life onboard gathering 38% of readers’ votes, surpassing other barriers like isolation from family (10%), connectivity (19%), bureaucracy (17%) and lack of team bonding (16%).

Seafarers generally agree that new regulations are increasing their workload at sea. With so much documentation and processes to follow, they have experienced huge stress and frustration, and even health problems.

The ILO MLC, 2006 has addressed a lot of stressful factors affecting seafarers’ wellbeing with the common symptoms being: sleep problems, sweating, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, headaches, muscle tension/pain, dizziness, chest pain and rapid heartbeat, frequent colds, upset stomach, breathlessness, dry mouth, anxiety, moodiness, felling low, losing temper easily, drinking/smoking and nail biting. These will affect their performance resulting in solitude and reluctance to engage in social activities.

II. Communication skills

Communication is a major factor affecting social life onboard ship. Good communication is essential for a good social climate and individuals’ satisfaction. Difficulties in communicating with other crew members easily, or in establishing relationships with them may cause isolation. Multinational crews are now the norm within the global fleet, yet it is important to be aware of different cultural preferences when bringing crew together socially to ensure that recreational activities suit the majority and maximise engagement.

In ISWAN’s Phase One survey of seafarer and other maritime stakeholders, more than a third of respondents identified culture or language as a key obstacle to social interaction on board. Namely, one seafarer interviewed after the survey stated: “If you’re not able to speak your native language it creates a difficulty to communicate more freely … when I’m alone on board I find myself more confined to my cabin because I already speak English or another language in working hours and then after work, I just withdraw myself a little bit.”

If a seafarer is the only one of his/her nationality on board, there is a chance they may be marginalised. This can also apply to other minority groups on board. A female seafarer reported feeling of segregation as she spent most of her off time in her cabin watching movies or on deck looking at the ocean.

III. Management level impact

In fact, seafarers’ social life involves both co-workers on board ships and families back home. Seafarers spend months at sea in tough living conditions – confined accommodation, noise, heat, bad weather and sometimes intolerable food. Having parties and drinks used to help seafarers be less stressful, but nowadays many companies are promoting alcohol-free management to ensure safe navigation with none or few alcoholic beverages on board. Some get-together events, like barbecues, have also been banned on board to prevent fire hazards.

The free Wi-Fi that most seafarers craving for has also become out of reach, given the considerable cost for operators. The younger generation of seafarers, in particular, have a strong desire for online social interaction. Even when they are in their own rooms, they get to socialise through online games or chat rooms. If companies do not encourage social interaction on board, the already dull life at sea will become even more hideous, which may eventually cause the seafarers to lose interest in all things.

IV. Geopolitical influence

In recent years, the shipping industry has encountered unprecedented and unexpected challenges, with dangerous and volatile situations such as attacks on ships in the Gulf, pirate attacks in Somalia and the Gulf of Guinea, rampant epidemics, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and mines in the Black Sea, all posing a great threat to the safety of ships. For too long, people around the world have become accustomed to the stability and reliability of the global supply chain, overlooking the great dedication of the frontline seafarers who have put their lives at risk. The pressure they experience against unknown risks is immense, and when the safety of life cannot be guaranteed, they become fearful and irritable, not to mention normal social life on board.

V. Leadership onboard

A 2021 ISWAN Project studying factors that can affect engagement with social activities on board reported that the onboard culture is strongly driven by the behaviour and example set by the captain and other senior officers, which suggests that strong leadership is key to crew socialising and wellbeing. It is clear that, if senior management really fosters interaction, there are many benefits to productivity and performance, as well as the contentedness of the crew. Adding leadership skills in social life on board can help build stronger relationships with crewmates, improve the feeling of trust and communication and boost mental health. A good leader can build room for conversation and conduct a proper communication. Instead of having meetings that create pressure to the participants, short conversations are easier for the crews and are great opportunities to get early feedback on how they were tackling problems. For masters, instead of taking credit for the things they’ve done, it is better to recognize all the good things the crewmates do and highlight them.

VI. Advice to Members

Good social activities on board can boost crew motivation and creativity. The harsh environment at sea and geopolitical circumstances are indeed detrimental to the mental health of seafarers but are not major obstacles to good social interaction. Improving the quality of seafarers’ social life on board is therefore an issue that needs to be addressed by the industry, and even more so by shipping companies and leaderships. Facilitating a diverse and inclusive social culture on board can thereby create a safe, happy and healthy environment for seafarers who will in turn bring greater safety to the ship and create greater economic benefits.

For more information, please contact Managers of the Association.