Triton 2025 - Magazine - Page 11
PANEL COVERAGE
“These things need to be a partnership between seafarer
and employer. The seafarer needs to take responsibility
for their own health and the employer needs to provide the
environment where that can happen.”
There has been a fantastic improvement in connectivity
and seafarers being able to get online but we also need to
understand the other side of this. A seafarer who is 5,000
miles away from home will hear about problems they cannot
deal with and parties they cannot join; meanwhile, if they
spend all their free time in their cabins, what does that do
for team cohesion? Social interaction is very important for
wellbeing, said Grainge.
Both sides must contribute
A ship owner/manager is responsible for the whole ship and
everything connected – and that includes seafarers. “As
owner/manager, there is no one I can blame when it comes
to the wellbeing of the crew. There are so many things
which we can and must influence – but both sides need to
contribute to gain value,” said Tim Ponath.
It’s hard to dictate what the seafarer must do to be healthier;
for example, moves to provide healthier menus can clash
with seafarer cultures, habits and preferences.
Long distances and long contracts create psychological
stresses. “A few years ago, we introduced a health insurance
for the seafarer, so they know there is a certain security for
their families at home. If they know we are taking care of
their families, they know they are not on their own.”
As for the question “Is it OK to say I’m not OK?”, NSB
has a speak-up culture and ‘Stop!’ initiative. “For some
nationalities it is very easy to speak up – for others they
would eat their tongue before they speak up. We need to
create a culture where they feel safe to speak up and let us
know if they are not OK.”
Physical health remains a concern – the Re:Fresh 2024
study by Marine Bene昀椀ts showed that 70% of seafarers
were classi昀椀ed as overweight or obese. Concerning 昀椀gures
around PEME results showed that seafarers need to change
their dietary habits and be physically active at home and
on board. In one clinic’s 昀椀ve-year PEME review, it was found
that only 4% of seafarers were immediately 昀椀t to work,
said Ponath. Nearly half were in Class C with higher health
risks and needed longer to get 昀椀t to work. “Mental health is
important, but what stress does it create for the seafarers if
they know they have an issue and they need to get through
their PEME?”
Interacting with seafarers is ‘super important’, he said.
Ponath visited 30 ratings in the Philippines – ratings and
of昀椀cers – in the Philippines earlier this year. “If you want
to understand, you need to listen to them. You hear so
much more if they let you in their more private atmosphere.
Talk to your people – go to where the seafarers live, try to
understand what they are really looking for and how you can
change things for the better.”
Triton 2025 11
