Recent seafarers’ surveys showing decline in happiness
The recently concluded 5th Tristar ‘Safety at Sea’ Conference was very timely following the recent disclosure of the 3rd quarter 2023 Seafarers Happiness Index which showed a decline. The report shows an overall fall in seafarer happiness to just 6.6 out of 10, compared to 6.77 in Q2-2023 and 7.1 in Q1-2023.
“The annual ‘Safety at Sea’ event is Tristar’s contribution to seafarers around the globe, a robust platform to discuss and implement an ecosystem that will enable all seafarers to stay healthy and alive and for them to identify with symptoms of depression and to encourage them to seek care or counselling, or simply talk to a colleague,” explained Tristar Group CEO Eugene Mayne.
In this year’s edition, five panel discussions were conducted on Safety Culture, Health Issues, Happiness and Well-being, Innovation in Seafarer Health, and Planning for the Future. The speakers were Sarah Waite of Shell; Capt. Simon Hodgkinson of West P&I; Capt. Hari Subramaniam of The Ship Owners Club P&I; Fr. Kent Middleton of Mission to Seafarers; Yiannis Fafalios of Care4C; Charles Watkins of MHSS, and Alexander Dimitrevich of MH & CS.
As a follow-up to the inaugural ‘Safety at Sea’ Conference in 2019, the Tristar Maritime Logistics Team organised a series of townhall-styled Psychological First Aid (PFA) workshops in Mumbai, India, for Vessel Masters and other senior officers.
“We stay in constant contact with seafarers on our vessels, with regular onboard visits and monthly phone calls. They are empowered to communicate directly with shipowners and managers, as well as the Sailors’ Society, to raise any concerns,” Mayne concluded.
