Dr Linda Sorensen, co-founder of Bigyellowfish, says mental health issues risk undermining the sustainability of the maritime sector. Seafarers often must perform in high-pressure environments given the unpredictable conditions of working at sea. Inclement weather, time pressures and long working hours are just some of the common difficulties of life onboard. In recent times, decarbonisation and new regulatory demands have also increased the level of stress among seafarers. A recent survey conducted by ISWAN (International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network) revealed that while seafarers support the fight against climate change, more than half say that new decarbonisation technologies and regulations have negatively impacted their workload, leading to higher levels of stress and fatigue. Many seafarers feel ill-equipped to deal with the pace of change and the amount of reporting required, and they need to be given the tools and skills to meet these increased demands.

LINK: https://seafarertimes.com/2020-21/node/9039