Page 26 - 2021 - Q2 - Minerva in Focus

THIS ISSUE’S KEY QUESTION

Wellbeing onboard:

What do seafarers really want?

Chief Officers’ Insight Internet time, good quality food, and upgrad-
ed gyms and smoking rooms for the seamen
to feel at home on the vessel.
Ioannis Vantarakis
Dimitrios Tomaras Chief Officer, M/V Sapientza
Chief Officer, M/T Minerva Anna
Besides contributing to
From my perspective, sea- safety on board, seafarer
farer wellbeing means sea- wellbeing is interlinked
farers feel free to express with optimal operational
themselves to a colleague effectiveness. Therefore, maintaining a
regarding any issue troubling their mind healthy lifestyle at sea is an essential
or mental health. When the environment component of crew efficacy. Enhancing
onboard allows this and seafarers feel com- seafarers’ quality of life while engaged
fortable, they have the right mindset and the in a vessel’s demanding environment
strength to overcome any obstacle and be encompasses physical, mental, and emo-
resilient even during the most demanding tional health. For the shipping industry
moments and situations. If the team they to continue evolving, it must identify the
work with provides these freedoms, they wellbeing of seafarers as its priority, which
shed negative thoughts and energy, and as along with their fundamental physiolog-
a result, they can focus more on the task at ical needs, is an aspect of their self-ful-
hand and perform onboard duties safely. fillment. Actions in this direction should
include helpful tools and guidelines,
Panagiotis D. Kakakios training solutions, and skills highlighting,
Chief Officer, M/T Minerva Mediterranea among other things, alternatives on how
to proactively maintain physical and men-
tal health while at sea for extended pe-
Wellbeing means crews riods of time. Firstly, particular attention
spend their time onboard should be given to providing a balanced
safely and creatively. Since nutritional plan, fitness and recreation
safety is of paramount im- activities, and a flexible resting-hours
portance, all safety precautions and meas- plan to relieve exhaustion from stressful
ures should be followed. As communication and long days of operation. Connectivity
between crew members and their families is also critical as being away from home
is vital nowadays, it is essential to have should by no means isolate seafarers from
sufficient Internet speed. Telephone calls their families, friends, and peers. Today,
are also a part of seafarer wellbeing, but more and more seafarers admit that they
unfortunately, call charges are usually high. rank connection to the Internet almost as
Lastly, the availability of game consoles high as their pay.
such as PlayStation and various table games Moreover, a broader sense of belonging
can improve seafarers’ lives while at sea. and the recognition received from the com-
pany’s onboard and on-shore personnel
Nikolaos Koulis undoubtedly have a positive impact on the
Chief Officer, M/T Minerva Iris seafarers’ mindset and sense of personal
achievement. Placing their wellbeing at the
First of all, for me, as a top of the company’s priorities can enhance
seaman, it means good and ship operations while reducing unfortunate
honest communication with incidents and accidents. The ultimate goal
the company. It also means is to create a win-win situation by attracting
a good balance between contracts, without and retaining the best crews and delivering
any big delays. In addition, it means the the optimal results for the company and its
company provides its vessels with sufficient end customers.

24 MINERVA IN FOCUS – ISSUE 16 / Q2 2021