In a first-of-a-kind move to improve seafarer well-being and tackle worsening labour shortages in the shipping industry, the Global Maritime Forum’s All Aboard Alliance and a consortium of 12 major shipping companies, after years of research and real-world pilots involving over 400 seafarers, developed nine-point guidelines to improve life at sea.
The consortium includes bp shipping, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Cargill Ocean Transportation, Chevron Shipping, Diana Shipping, Dorian LPG, GasLog, Hafnia, MISC Marine, Stena Group, Swire Shipping, and Synergy Marine Group.
Mikael Skov, chief executive officer at Hafnia and All Aboard Alliance Co-chair, said: “These guidelines serve as a roadmap for shipping companies striving to improve employee well-being, and will also help seafarers and other stakeholders identify companies that take sustainability and social responsibility seriously.”
The Sustainable Crewing Guidelines aim to boost working conditions and alleviate the forecasted shortfall of 90,000 trained seafarers by 2026.
Following 115 interviews with female seafarers from 23 different nationalities, the All Aboard Alliance launched the Diversity@Sea pilot project in October 2023 to address the pain points identified in the conversations.
Several co-designed solutions were tested in a ten-month pilot project involving 12 first-mover shipping companies, with some 400 seafarers on the 12 pilot vessels providing daily feedback to assess the impact of these measures.
The guidelines address challenges related to abuse and harassment, work-life balance, and onboard facilities.
Each guideline includes key indicators to help seafarers, charterers, cargo owners and shipping companies evaluate how well a shipping company or vessel is aligned with each guideline.
Preliminary research carried out to inform the guidelines showed that 25% of seafarers experience harassment and bullying (rising to >50% for female seafarers), 90% report having no weekly day off, and many are isolated with limited or no access to internet services at sea.
Struggling with inexperience, fatigue, and insufficient resources, workers face an increased risk of accidents, endangering both crew members and ships.
It is estimated that 75-96% of accidents and incidents at sea involve human error (Allianz) and that 15-20% of all fatalities are linked to fatigue.
The impact extends beyond worker well-being, with major knock-on effects for global supply chains.
Seafarer labour shortages have reached a 17-year high and some major banks have indicated they could curb lending for shipowners who put seafarers’ welfare at risk.
In accordance with the guidelines, over 90% of seafarers state that good parental benefits are important to them.
Currently, around 13% of vessels globally offer no internet access at all, while others charge seafarers to access onboard Wi-Fi. Crew members have also reported high dissatisfaction with their amount of shore leave.
Regarding the guidelines Mikael Skov added, “They strike a strong balance between aspiration and realism, and we’re confident that they will improve outcomes for all workers in the maritime industry, ensuring that success is accessible to everyone – regardless of gender, race, sexuality, or background.”
The All Aboard Alliance will meet in April to explore the next steps for the guidelines.
The Sustainable Crewing Guidelines can be found here.
