Indonesia’s largest state-owned oil company, Pertamina International Shipping, has recently partnered with the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Indonesian seafarers’ union, Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia (KPI), to enhance mental health services for its crew members. This initiative involves a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed this month, which aims to provide mental health training and outreach services over the next three years.
This MoU is particularly noteworthy as it follows a significant agreement made by the Indonesian government with the ITF and KPI in September of the previous year. Throughout this agreement, mental health education for seafarers has been made a mandatory part of the curriculum in the country’s maritime academies. Dr. Syed Asif Altaf, the ITF’s Global Wellbeing Programme Coordinator, emphasized the importance of this initiative, calling it “hugely significant.”
KPI General Secretary, I Dewa Nyoman Budiasa, highlighted that this partnership exemplifies a collaborative effort between the union, the maritime industry, and the government to advocate for mental health awareness among seafarers. Budiasa expressed pride in Pertamina’s role, stating, “Today is the start of a series of training sessions and the development of an outreach network,” aimed at educating and supporting crew members in times of need.
Similarly, the ITF-Pertamina MoU aligns with a recent agreement on mental health training made with the Government of the Philippines, emphasizing the broader regional focus on improving seafarers’ mental wellbeing. While the Philippines is recognized as the largest supplier of seafarers globally, Indonesia stands as the third-largest provider of ratings and fifth for officers, making such initiatives crucial for the industry.
Muhammad Irfan, Pertamina’s Director of Fleet Management, praised the MoU as a progressive move towards fostering a positive mental health culture within the company. He stated that a program to build a healthy mentality among seafarers would contribute to sustainable business practices for Pertamina International Shipping.
Following the MoU signing, a two-day training seminar titled ‘First Responder and Peer Educator’ was conducted for Pertamina’s senior officers and engineers in Jakarta. The training covered essential topics such as recognizing stress and providing support to crew members facing challenges. Captain Steven, one of the senior officers involved, highlighted the importance of such training, particularly for seafarers who often face isolation and limited social contact while on duty.
Plans for the future include three additional first responder training sessions and an advanced ‘Training of the Trainer’ seminar slated for 2025. An emergency call center, providing support in Bahasa Indonesia, will also be established later this year.
The partnership between ITF and Pertamina marks a significant step in a broader movement towards enhancing mental health and wellbeing for seafarers, building on similar agreements in multiple countries including India and Romania. The collective aim is to establish a supportive network for maritime workers, ensuring their mental health is prioritized in the industry.
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