Half of seafarers say crewing levels put safe working at risk

Half of seafarers say crewing levels put safe working at risk
Gary Howard September 22, 2026 https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/crewing/half-of-seafarers-say-crewing-...

Just 49% of seafarers say their ships carried enough crew to work safely without excessive fatigue or breaching agreed rest hours.

Just 49% of seafarers said there were enough crew onboard during their most recent contract to work safely without excessive fatigue or breaching agreed rest hours.

This one was of the findings of a report published by the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI), the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), the Mission to Seafarers, the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights, RightShip and TURTLE, to mark five years since the launch of Delivering on Seafarers’ Rights Code of Conduct. The report draws on data from RightShip’s Crew Welfare Self-Assessment (CWSA) and two seafarer studies commissioned for the publication.

The report said that 59% of seafarers said they would feel safe raising a serious concern without fear or consequence, leaving the remaining 41% either unsure or feeling unsafe to raise issues.

RightShip said more than 1,000 companies had completed the CWSA to assess their progress against the Code of Conduct, accounting for more than 13,000 vessels and approximately 300,000 seafarers. Its data was combined with a 2026 survey of 892 seafarers by TURTLE, and findings from workshop discussions held by the Mission to Seafarers in the Philippines.

The CWSA did find areas of strong performance against the Code of Conduct’s eight chapters, including 90% attainment in the fair terms of employment segment. Wages were reported as paid correctly, in full and on time by 76% of seafarers, but delayed payments and employment terms were among concerns of the 24%.

Crew wellbeing was highlighted as an area in need of universal attention, the report said, “but there are clear areas of progress. Mental-health training has increased significantly, and fewer companies are charging seafarers for connectivity, while provision of catering, mess and recreational facilities is very widely reported.”

CWSA respondent data showed 8.5% of companies charged seafarers for internet access in 2026, down from 18.4% in 2024. Provision of mental health training amongst ship owners and operators also improved over the past two years, from 64% to 76%.

TURTLE’s data showed 17% of respondents would not feel safe using available mental health support for it may be used against them, reinforced in the MtS workshops where seafarers said showing vulnerability carried real professional risk.

“The gap between what companies provide and what seafarers feel able to use is one of the harder things to measure and one of the most important things to close,” said the report.

Looking to the next five years, the report’s authors said the next five years must be about scaling up the good practice across the world fleet to reach more seafarers and spread progress beyond leading shipping companies.

When it comes to extending the reach of the Code of Conduct, “Charterers and cargo owners have an important role to play, as do insurers, investors and flag states. They can do more than set expectations or screen suppliers: they can support improvement through terms and clauses,agreed improvement plans, practical collaboration and longer-term commercial relationships, while recognising owners and operators that demonstrate strong and improving performance. Importantly, flag states need to implement stronger, more effective control,” said the report.

Commenting on the report, Ellie Besley-Gould, CEO, Sustainable Shipping Initiative, said: “The evidence from the last five years points in two directions. It shows that good welfare can be delivered but those standards are not yet part of daily life for many seafarers. The next five years must be about closing that gap. The industry isn't being asked to choose between commercial viability and responsible practice. It already makes commercial decisions that determine which operators win business, secure cover and access capital. What it needs to do now is make sure crew welfare is visible in those decisions. The operators leading on this are already seeing the returns. The rest of the industry shouldn't need five more years to draw the same conclusion."

Georgios Tsoukatos, Diana Shipping Services, commented: “When seafarers are mentally and physically supported and have adequate opportunities to rest, communicate and enjoy their free time, they are better positioned to maintain concentration, make sound decisions and work effectively as a team.”

Download the report Five Years into the Code of Conduct: What’s Changed for Seafarers? (https://sustainableshipping.org/our-work/delivering-on-seafarers-rights-...) from the SSI website.