The first of the 2024 Sailors’ Society Cadet Conferences: Wellbeing skills for future seafarers drew over 4000 cadets, shattering all prior attendance records for these international events.
Cadets from maritime colleges and institutions across the Indian subcontinent joined new-to-sea ratings for a virtual conference focused on the critical topic of wellness and mental health in the maritime industry.
In addition to engaging seminars and practical guidance, these Gen Z seafarers heard from important industry experts and influencers such as the Director General of Shipping in India, Mr Shyam Jagannathan, and Capt Manoj Gandhi, Director, Seaspan Crew Management, the event’s sponsor.
Sara Baade, CEO, Sailors’ Society, stated, “These conferences are now in their fourth year, and the attendance figures demonstrate how important cadets see this aspect of their future life at sea. Each year, we develop a better understanding of this next generation of seafarers.”
Polls taken throughout the event, which was also sponsored by the TK Foundation, provided a unique glimpse into the motivations of the participants, who represent the future of seafaring.
Sixty-eight percent of cadets and ratings stated how their employer treats seafarers was the most important consideration in choosing a shipping firm, while 41% said time away from family and contract duration were the primary reasons they would leave the sector.
Sara continued, “Our research also shows that only 33% of those asked perceived the sector as inclusive, and more over half of the cadets who went were concerned about their mental health. This means that understanding how to manage your mental health at sea, as well as how to deal with bullying and welcome diversity onboard, are all critical skills that these cadets and ratings require and that we can assist them in acquiring.”
Mr Jagannathan delivered a keynote address emphasising the significance of greater attempts to improve the wellbeing of seafarers and congratulating the Sailors’ Society on their efforts in this regard.
The other speakers for the conference included:-
- Dr Deepti Mankad, Regional Coordinator, Sailors’ society
- Mr Johan Smith, Global Head of Wellness, Sailors’ society
- Heidi Heseltine, Founder, Diversity Study Group
- Dr Christian Angelo P Lubaton, Medical Director for Holistic Care, Nordic Medical Clinic
- Capt Rishi Mehra, Head of Crew Training, Pacific Basin Shipping (HK) Limited
- Namrata Nadkarni, CEO, Intent Communications & Chair of the Fuels Working Group at the World Ports Climate Action Programme (WPCAP)
- Van Villanueva, Social Media Maritime Influencer
The North-Asia Conference was the first of four virtual events, with conferences for Africa on September 19, South East Asian cadets on October 5, and the United Kingdom and Europe on November 6. You can sign up for the remaining conferences at https://sailors-society.org/cadet-conference24.
The data obtained at the conferences will be used to create the Society’s 2024/25 Cadet Report, which will provide the industry with new insights into the future generation of maritime professionals, including their perspectives on crucial topics like as mental health, diversity, bullying and harassment, and retention. Marex Media