According to the Seafarers Happiness Index, a quarterly survey conducted by the Mission to Seafarers, based on data from Quarter 4 of 2024, there was a break in the positive trend seen throughout the year. After steady improvements, the happiness score dropped from 7.16 in Q3 to 6.91 in Q4, marking the first decline of the year.
While some aspects of seafarer welfare show positive trends, the Q4 analysis highlights ongoing challenges in creating a consistently satisfying work environment at sea.
Significant negative drivers were present, including systemic isolation and restricted mobility, particularly concerning shore leave. Notably, there were concerns raised regarding the role of ports and, more specifically, complaints that some ports are not actively facilitating shore access but rather acting as a barrier to it.
It has been common to hear criticisms levelled at shipping companies, or even individual masters and chief engineers, but increasingly ports are being seen as barriers to getting ashore. Ports and some people working within them, it seems, are adding to feelings of isolation and dissatisfaction among crew members.
There is a growing perception that if a port isn’t actively supporting shore access, it may unintentionally hinder it — an issue that seafarers are becoming increasingly vocal about.
Workload intensification during port calls added to the strain, while compensation concerns, such as stagnant wages amid rising living costs and hidden costs, further fueled dissatisfaction.
Seafarers reported challenges in maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which is exacerbated by increasing paperwork and inspection requirements, ultimately impacting their overall well-being.
A persistent issue is ongoing dissatisfaction with connectivity, as unreliable or insufficient internet access limits meaningful communication with family and friends. Repeatedly, it was reported that free allowances are being granted, but the vessel’s bandwidth is insufficient to deliver on these promises, leading to growing frustration.
While increasingly generous offers of free access are made, the reality is that they cannot be fulfilled. This situation resembles what might be termed “Schrödinger’s Connectivity”, where good, free Wi-Fi exists – until you try to use it.
Another critical factor influencing seafarer sentiment was training. While many appreciated the quality of the instruction received, there was widespread concern that the volume of training was excessive, often disrupting much-needed rest during time at sea, or family time when ashore.
Junior personnel, in particular, noted a lack of hands-on experience, feeling that online training formats were insufficiently engaging and did not adequately prepare them for real-world applications. This situation appears to have led to increased fatigue and frustration, further contributing to the decline in overall satisfaction.
Photo credit: iStock/ YakobchukOlena
