Data from the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network’s (ISWAN) helplines show that number of seafarers reporting abuse, bullying, harassment or discrimination increased by almost 50% in Q1 compared to the previous quarter.
ISWAN has released the first in a series of quarterly infographics sharing data from its helpline services, providing the maritime sector with intelligence on global seafarer issues with the aim to drive positive change.
ISWAN highlighted a 45% quarter-on-quarter increase of reports of abuse, bullying, harassment and discrimination from seafarers. The majority of these cases related to abusive or bullying behaviour by senior officers, and 19% involved sexual abuse or sexual harassment.
The ISWAN news follows on from the Mission to Seafarers’ latest Seafarers Happiness Index report for Q1, which revealed a decline in overall happiness levels among seafarers during the first three months of the year.
Writing for Splash last month, Steven Jones, the founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, warned: “What is coming across loud and is a real concern that we are not listening to seafarers. There is a real sense we are ignoring them, hoping they just crack on with the job of moving ships until we no longer need them. That is crass stupidity and a gross mix of arrogance and naivety, a dangerous cocktail indeed.”
