26 NOV 2025
Seafarer Hospital Society says seafarer health and wellbeing must be treated as a business-critical strategic priority, not just a welfare concern.
Seafarer wellbeing needs to be a strategic priority for the shipping industry if it is to reach its sustainability goals, according to a new report from the Seafarers Hospital Society (SHS).
‘The human heart of sustainable shipping’ examines modern seafaring through three lenses – mental health and wellbeing, financial burden, and recruitment and retention.
The report argues that mental health and wellbeing is now a core operational issue for ship managers and operators. Employers taking steps to support seafarer mental health are rewarded with reduced staff turnover, retention of institutional knowledge, and mitigation of recruitment lag, said the report.
A negative impact on safety was highlighted from increased stress on seafarers. Longer transits and extended contracts, especially in areas that may be perceived as dangerous, increase stress on seafarers. With limited trauma support for seafarers in place, rising stress brings greater attrition and reputational damage.
The report also noted an increased administrative burden on seafarers, compounding the effect of longer transits and contracts, as paperwork, inspections, and overlapping regulatory regimes pressure rest hours. According to a World Maritime University report from 2024, fatigue is the most common safety-related issue onboard.
Closely linked with seafarer mental health and wellbeing, financial burdens on seafarers are increasing as requirements for training and certification mount and those training costs are often met by the seafarer, the report said. Further stress can be added by cutting crew numbers to save on costs, increasing the workload of remaining seafarers onboard.
Investments in safety-relevant activities such as training should be embraced as part of long-term risk management, the report said.
“Shipowners and managers should treat financial transparency and fair compensation as strategic levers for stability. Proactive communication about training plans, subsidies, or phased support can help seafarers plan, stay motivated, and commit to a long-term maritime career,” the report said.
With a persistent officer-level skills shortage and women making up just 1% of the seafarer workforce, modernising working conditions is vital to attract new talent and retain experienced professionals, the report claimed.
Systemic rather than reactive action is required to address the issues facing seafarers, SHS argued.
“Meaningful support can be simple and effective. However, to build long-term resilience for the industry, we need systemic investment and coordinated action,” said Sandra Welch, CEO of SHS.
The full report is available on the SHS website.