A Decade of Insight: The Seafarers Happiness Index

Join us as Steven Jones, Founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI), and Ben Bailey of the Mission to Seafarers examine a decade of measuring seafarer well-being. This landmark session examines how the maritime industry's most comprehensive crew welfare barometer has captured the voices of those at sea since its inception.

Event Details

Our expert speakers will unpack ten years of data that has given seafarers a platform to share their authentic experiences aboard vessels worldwide. From its origins as a simple feedback tool to becoming an essential industry benchmark, discover how the SHI has evolved to influence policy and practice across the maritime sector.

Highlights:

• Tracking Happiness Through Turbulent Times: Explore the dramatic fluctuations in seafarer well-being during global crises, including the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic when many crew members were stranded at sea for extended periods.
• The Respect and Reward Crisis: Learn about the concerning disconnect between record industry profits and seafarer compensation and how this impacts crew morale and retention.
• Beyond "Grin-washing": Understand the difference between superficial welfare initiatives and meaningful interventions that genuinely improve life at sea.
• Data-Driven Insights: Examine the correlation between vessel condition, crew welfare, and operational performance revealed through innovative partnerships.

Key Takeaways:

• How the SHI methodology captures the human element often overlooked in shipping metrics
• Critical factors affecting seafarer happiness, from fatigue to connectivity to shore leave
• Practical, actionable steps the industry can take to enhance crew welfare
• The economic case for investing in seafarer happiness as a driver of safety and operational excellence

Looking Forward

The session will conclude with exploring future directions for the SHI and seafarer welfare, examining how emerging technologies, environmental regulations, and changing workforce demographics will shape life at sea in the coming decade.

This session is organised in association with the Mission to Seafarers