We ask Lesley Warrick, Executive Director, Seafarers House and member of WISTA how the maritime industry can successfully respond to the needs of seafarers.
Read her responses below.
Leah Kinthaert: Why is connectivity an important issue in the shipping industry?
Lesley Warrick: Connectivity in the modern world is no longer a luxury. It is something which has become an integral part of modern life, and a working knowledge across a variety of platforms is critical to functioning in any professional endeavour.
In the shipping world there is an entire range of operational applications running the gambit from general communications to more sophisticated developments such as remote maintenance; satellite delivery of digital charts; delivery of weather data, and the e -Learning services that are increasingly part of life at sea. In virtually any gathering of maritime business, discussions pertaining to crew include ways and means to reduce crew turnover and attract and retain quality crew. Key to this is providing connectivity, not just in the working environment aboard ship, but also in the personal environment for seafarers.
Acknowledging the fundamental nature of a connected, digital life in today’s society is critical to best and highest use of the asset that seafarers represent to the maritime industry. An employee in any working environment cannot function at their highest level without the tools and training to do so. This is no less true of the modern seafarer.
The integration of connectivity into the working world of the seafarer crosses over into the arena of personal lives as well. Today’s seafarers seek better communications with loved ones; they seek access to the Internet, social media and all the entertainment, news and information that comes along with such access. The access to these modes of communication that we all enjoy ashore become even more critical to working mariners who are isolated from a large percentage of society due to the fundamental nature of their work. This kind of access to connectivity is key to the working mariner’s general well-being and mental health.
LK: What do you see as the biggest health concerns to seafarers?
LW: Social isolation is very real concern for the health of seafarers. Over and over again in our work with mariners who visit our campus in Port Everglades, we hear that the very first thing they wish to do is communicate with loved ones. It used to be all done through landlines, telephones and calling cards which have now been replaced by array of phones, tablets, and digital services available through apps and the Internet.
In addition to communicating with loved ones, when we speak with them or we visit ships – seafarers are eager to talk with someone who has a new perspective, a new ear for their story and the day-to-day concerns of their lives. It’s important to note that social isolation is not the same as loneliness although loneliness is very often its outgrowth. There has been some key research done on this topic by Dr. Olivia Swift of the Greenwich Maritime Institute and her work is well worth review by those with a vested interest in the health of seafarers, their families and communities.
The fact of the matter is that the work which isolates or alienates working mariners from broader society not only affects them but also impacts entire groups of those who are connected to them at the base of it all. Seafarers who do not communicate with loved ones lose the common bonds of experience and can begin a spiral of disconnection that can have deleterious effects throughout families and entire communities. Being away from land for so many months and with only the same few comrades for companionship can result in feelings of boredom, depression, exclusion, anger, despair – a whole array of feelings associated with the psychological state of alienation.
Another major health concern for seafarers is fatigue. Not just the casual tiredness which can be cured by a good night’s sleep but a constant environmental pressure that good sleep cannot solve. It is well understood that lack of adequate sleep can contribute to mistakes and accidents. Seafaring jobs are demanding, and today’s seafarers face an increasing regulatory and administrative burden, along with pressure to stay abreast of changing technological demands, not to mention the demanding work rosters on a working ship. The cumulative effect often allows very little opportunity for mariners to step away from all the pressures and consequent fatigue inherent in their work. Safety aboard ship is directly tied to adequate rest and mitigation of fatigue through good planning and adequate crew numbers. We often see visiting crew members taking an hour or so of their personal time in our ‘quiet space’ to nap when they are ashore.
LK: Do these concerns differ for female seafarers?
LW: One big difference is that there are so few female seafarers, so there is less focus on the differentiation of their needs. The issue of social isolation is even greater for a female seafarer sailing alone with an otherwise all-male crew. Industry observers highly recommend that 2 or more female mariners sail with crew on working vessels wherever possible. The companionship makes a big difference in long-term mental health and an abiding sense of security and belonging.
Furthermore, as we see new advancements and research in the medical world generally, we must increasingly acknowledge that a preponderance of the medical research and knowledge upon which our systems of care have been based were developed for men. The medical community is increasingly coming to grips with this and as we have greater understanding of the real differences in diagnosing and treating men and women for the same issues, we must be attuned to whether the best practices for women’s health are making their way into the maritime industry in time to not only the secure the health of female seafarers but as part of what will make the seafaring life more attractive to new prospects as we seek a healthier, more robust working ship population.
LK: Do you think digital advancements are helping to ensure the safety of the world’s seafarers? If so, how?
LW: There are new systems and advancements which better protect seafarers giving them access to real time news, and assistance in a multitude of areas ranging from ship safety diagnostic tools, to piracy and weather-related alerts. But at the same time, as we are watching growth in digital applications to the maritime world, there must be cyber security governance to address the same threats we see on land relative to cyber security.
LK: How do you see the industry evolving in terms of connectivity?
LW: At least insofar as connectivity for seafarers is concerned, more companies are supplying internet at reasonable costs (or gratis) at a slower rate than what we might wish, but it is happening. There are any number of players in the communications world who are working on all of the related concerns of increased and more cost-effective access.
LK: How can we offer more support to the next generation of seafarers?
LW: We can offer continued advocacy for connectivity for seafarers within the industry, development of better tools to ensure seafarers understand best practice for social media while on board – which is not only good for them, but also good for their employer, and develop employee programs to deal with the psychosocial aspects of working at sea.
LK: Mental health is a key concern at sea. What tips do you have to offer ship managers on ensuring the mental safety of their crews?
LW: There are International Labor Organization (ILO) & International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines having to do with dealing with mental health for working seafarers. We do hear in our discussions with mariners that boredom is a key concern as well the social isolation experienced as a result of lack of access to communicating with loved ones. One can easily see how these concerns could lead to distraction, lack of focus and potential job performance issues.
There is a growing body of research work being done by experts in the field of occupational health to better understand the challenges and needs of seafarers. Few
would argue with the fact that adverse effects on job performance can be directly tied to perception, mood and a variety of psychological factors. Providing access to appropriate clinical diagnosis is key and regular overall health checks should include a psychological component.
As explanation of ongoing research being undertaken by the Seamen’s Church Institute in cooperation with Dr Rafael Lefkowitz of Yale University, Dr, Lefkowitz writes, “it is hypothesized that a variety of occupational exposures, including unique biological (travel-related, close-quarters), chemical, physical, and psychosocial hazards (stress, language barriers, organizational factors, shift work, piracy), as well as baseline population characteristics will be predictors of incident injury and illness at sea. Identifying modifiable risk factors will enable effective preventive measures, improving seafarer health and shipping efficiency.’
LK: Do you predict a future with unmanned vessels as common place?
LW: The day of the automated vessel is coming although the question of when and how fully automation will overtake the industry is still a subject of speculation.
In recent conversations with industry players on this subject, it was generally agreed that the technology already exists, but the regulatory and liability concerns will take time to sort out. In several generations, as older ships are retired, newer ships will be increasingly automated, starting out with remote control and management of ship systems. Crews already are smaller on many ships and what we experience in our mission with crew who visit us is an ever-stronger desire to converse with new people and put the automated shipboard life behind them for a few hours.
LK: Due to the truly international nature of shipping, a clash of cultures can also pose an issue on board, how do you think these issues can be overcome?
LW: Education and communication are critical, and training is key. It’s important to teach people how to relate to each other when there are different cultures and languages in the mix on any one vessel. Diversity training in any workplace is helpful and it can only be all the more valuable in the diverse culture that is inherent in shipboard life. Sharing different perspectives on time (polychronic vs. monochronic), an understanding of different views on authority, hierarchy and relationships and some focus on language skills are all keys to successful interaction of different cultures. Though the language of commerce is English and most speak it enough to communicate basics, it is the lack of more complex or nuanced understanding that is problematic.
LK: Do you consider life at sea to be more of a challenge for women than men? If so, in what ways?
LW: We see very few female mariners visiting our mission. As you might expect, we see women in greater numbers working aboard cruise ships than cargo ships, but the numbers worldwide indicate 2% of working mariners are female. There was good article on the site Marine Insight in 2015 which I thought captured the challenge of a maritime
career for women very well. With credit and thanks to the author (it was written by a female mariner from India) and the issues she identified were:
- Lack of awareness and information: Women don’t know the option exists.
- Male dominated industry: Shipping has historically been a male dominated industry and there traditionally has been little encouragement to step into the industry due to a lack of female role models. Thankfully, we are seeing some positive changes here with respect to the increase in female role models.
- No or less support: Families, educators, and society at large often do not provide support to women contemplating a career in the shipping world.
- Less acceptance by companies: Difficulty in getting jobs as well as lack of support for professional development in the maritime industry. The perception is that possibility for advancement is minimal. She also referred to the lack of facilities and amenities aboard ship for female mariners, which make the jobs unattractive to many.
- Social, cultural and practical obstacles: In many cultures finding the balance between demands of work and family has been a common issue. Societal pressures both at home and aboard ship are a deterrent.
- Job security: Most of the private shipping companies provide contractual employment and do not have remarkable retirement benefits.
- Lack of workshops and seminars: Her observations here were especially applicable for an item for WISTA readers. She discussed the lack of organizations and regional networks of experienced female mentors to help educate, train and support young women seafarers and to help them develop a strong presence in the maritime sector. We need to make sure that WISTA continues its good work in this area – it is making a big difference in the industry!
