Pratik Bijlani –
The Sailor’s Society’s much anticipated “Wellness at Sea” conference took place on June 24th at MSC House, Mumbai. The event brought together major stakeholders in the maritime industry, such as shipping firms, training institutes, and associations, to discuss the critical topic of seafarer well-being.
Mr Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping, delivered a compelling keynote talk to kick off the conference. He emphasised the need of considering the human element in maritime operations. Mr Jagannathan highlighted the importance of preserving sailors’ overall health, citing their different socio-cultural backgrounds. He identified several serious factors contributing to poor mental health among seafarers and pointed out the DG Shipping Office’s multifaceted efforts, including the National Logistics Portal (Marine), Port Welfare Committee, Sagar Mein Samman, and Suraksha Pratham, to achieve clear outcomes in seafarer welfare.
Dr. Deepti Mankad, a professional development trainer, Mindspeak Founder, and regional coordinator for the ‘Wellness at Sea’ programme, emphasised the seminar’s role as a platform for promoting the importance of wellbeing at sea. Capt MP Bhasin, Chairman, The Company of Master Mariners of India (CMMI), also addressed the need for national wellness programmes.
Mr Johan Smith, Head of Wellness at Sailor’s Society, gave a riveting presentation about the “Wellness at Sea” programme. He emphasised that every seafarer is first and foremost a human being, dealing with a variety of interrelated challenges stemming from their social, cultural, and religious views. Smith analysed the evolution of marine well-being, highlighting the significant shifts that occurred during the COVID era and the significance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reports in encouraging wellness.
Johan Smith has been on a whistle-stop tour of India, meeting with old friends and supporters while also building new contacts for the nautical charity. The Sailor’s Society, an international charity that helps merchant sailors and their families, recently launched the Wellness at Sea programme to address poor mental health and the risks connected with living at sea. Recognising that many maritime mishaps are frequently attributed to human error, which conceals underlying concerns such as exhaustion, stress, and poor mental health, the programme seeks to treat wellness holistically.
The Wellness at Sea programme focuses on five different aspects of well-being: social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual. It builds on pioneering research into mental health and the unique social milieu of ships, with an advisory board of industry leaders. The programme provides participants with the tools they need to maintain good general wellness at sea, as well as traditional technical proficiency. It attempts to identify mental health issues early on and to provide knowledge and skills to those responsible for seafarers.
Loneliness and separation from friends and family are major issues that cause many seafarers to leave their careers. By recognising these difficulties early and empowering masters and senior officers to address them, the programme improves the chances of resolving them. Historically, seafarer training has emphasised occupational skills, whereas welfare services have been reactive. Wellness at Sea is a proactive approach that prioritises cultural competency, emotional intelligence, social skills, and spiritual well-being.
The programme is accessible in two levels: Officer and Cadet. Wellness at Sea Project Manager Johan Smith will initially offer the course in five countries: South Africa, Namibia, China, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
The course is divided into five distinct modules:
- Social wellness
- Emotional Wellness
- Physical wellness
- Intellectual wellness
- Spiritual wellness
Wellness at Sea recognises the value of a crew that meets its mental and spiritual requirements. By focusing on people rather than problems, the programme strives to improve the safety and efficiency of marine operations using a person-centered approach.
With industry partners such as MSC Shipping in India and media backing from Marex Media, the conference successfully highlighted the importance of seafarer wellbeing in ensuring safe and efficient maritime operations.
Marex Media