Make Life at Sea Better LATEST Q1 2023 happiness score 7.10 out of 10, down from 7.69 in Q4 2022

The Seafarers Happiness Index exists to provide all men and women working at sea with a chance to share how they feel and to talk about the good and bad about life at sea today. Share your views and let the industry know what works and what needs to be changed.

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What is the Seafarers Happiness Index?

The Seafarers Happiness Index was founded in 2015 and is designed to monitor and benchmark seafarer satisfaction levels by asking 10 key questions and serves as an important barometer of seafarer satisfaction with life at sea. Questions focus on a range of issues, from mental health and wellbeing, to working life and family contact.

The survey is distributed to global seafarers to provide indicators of key issues around the happiness of seafarers, both on shore and aboard. The results are then shared with industry and key decision makers. Together we can make sure that seafarers voices are heard, and that the shipping industry can make positive changes. Let's make life at sea better.

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Help make seafaring better

Why take the survey?

The survey is short, and only takes a few minutes to complete. It is your way of getting a message to the world, of sharing how you feel - and calling for change or applauding the things which are good about seafaring today.

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Better access to internet

The issue of internet access is a constant and universal theme of the Seafarers Happiness Index. At its most basic level, seafarers with access are happy, while those without it feel extremely frustrated. There are many seafarers who strongly believe the issue of seafarer internet access is something which needs legislating for, and that every vessel and as such every seafarer should have access.

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Improve Your Food

The quality and quantity of food onboard, as well as good nutritional value, which reflects the culture of those onboard is a vital building block of a healthy ship - in mind and body. The Seafarers Happiness Index reports back on the issues which are facing crews - those who are happy with their food, and those who certainly are not.

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Improve Life Onboard

Improved facilities onboard can range from gym and exercise equipment, through to the provision of social spaces which are conducive to team building, conversations and shared activities. We hope that seafarers' input will be listened to, and ships will evolve not just to satisfy regulations, but the people who live and work on them too.

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Improve Your Shoreleave

The issue of shoreleave is a pivotal and sensitive area. Shoreleave is a valuable commodity for seafarers, the chance for a change of environment and a means of relaxing is so important. We hope that the voice of seafarers and the reality of their predicaments when denied access to the shore will be heard.

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Lightening Your Workload

Ships are perhaps busier today than they have ever been – faster turnarounds owning to technological advances in ports have meant that there is ever more to do in a shorter period of time. We hope to allow concerns to be voiced, and changes made which flatten the spikes in activity and which allow the levels of rest which ease seafarers' burdens in real life, not just on paper.

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Improve Your Mental Health

Happiness is the foundation on which everything is built. Happy people stick around, happy people work well, they embrace challenges, they look to excel and they share with others. How can we safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of seafarers?

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Better Maritime Training

The issue of training is an important one. Seafarers want continuous and well-documented training – both ashore and while onboard, and we hope the industry will listen to their calls.

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Ensure Great Welfare Ashore

Day and night, the Mission is on call for seafarers in over 200 ports worldwide. Seafarers seek our assistance because all too often they have nowhere else to turn. We are always looking to ensure that we provide the best possible experience for seafarers.

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Companies Listen and Learn

Measuring how happy people are about the various elements of their working life at sea gives the picture of the real successes and problems within seafaring, and provides a chance for companies to learn how to make seafarers happier in their jobs.

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Make Seafaring Better

By finding out how happy seafarers are, then we can build a picture of the industry and of where we are winning and losing. What we need to do to make life at sea, and seafaring better.

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The future looks bright

A better future for seafarers

Let the shipping industry know what you think. So seafarers, all over the world, now is your chance for change. Tell us what makes life at sea good, but also the things you would like to see changed. Share your views, tell your story and let us know how happy you are in your job.

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Become our partner

Partner with us

The Seafarers Happiness Index needs the support of companies and organisations in the shipping industry. We want to work with you to enact the changes that seafarers are seeking. So too, we want to reward and recognise the positives. So, work with the Mission to Seafarers in this vitally important project - be a happiness hero.

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Take the survey

Take the Seafarers Happiness Index survey now - and share your thoughts on life at sea today.

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