June 22, 2018
Health and wellbeing is not just for one day – it is for every day…
June 25 is the IMO-affiliated Day of the Seafarer. It is a day we support every year – one day to slow down and formally celebrate our 7000 seafaring colleagues all around the world – and the million other seafarers who help power the global economy.
In 2018, the IMO is focused on seafarer wellbeing, particularly mental health. They are using two hashtags: #supportseafarerswellbeing and #gooddayatsea.
The seafaring life is a demanding one: shift patterns, different time zones, a heavy-industry workplace, weather-related hazards, long periods of time away from family. For seafarers to thrive in such a demanding workplace requires the commitment of us all.
Our seafarers must keep themselves fit, healthy and sharp. Exercise, eat well (ably supported by our fantastic cooks and messmen), rest and sleep well, and stay connected with their loved ones.
The crew must look after each other. Work together to execute daily operations, and also congregate, share, relax, eat together. Capt. Ciro Lorenzano knows what this means:
Our Marine HR teams connect with seafarers every day; and also often know and offer support to family members too. The whole shore team must support their colleagues onboard – check in, ask good questions, get aligned, get to know each other. Ray McNamara talks about the power of conversation:
The whole company must support and commit to its seafarers’ wellbeing. We take direction from our Founder, Torben Karlshoej. Torben was always on hand for the vessels. He was known to get direct feedback from the front line to ensure their needs were met. Capt. Boris Lisica describes Torben’s frequent and unexpected vessel visits, to stay connected:
Since those days, of course, our operations, our management systems, and our training programs have all matured. But our focus on health and wellbeing is not just for one day – it is for every day. And we must do it together. This year we launched a drawing competition to promote healthy living. We asked our seafarer’s children to submit drawings that demonstrated why healthy living leads to a longer and fun-filled life. Take a look at all the entries:
If we all pull together to #supportseafarerswellbeing, then they will have a #gooddayatsea.
To all our seafarers!