COVID-19 border closures cause humanitarian crew change crisis at sea

Beukelaer, Christiaan De

doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104661

Cited by 47 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 2 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…For example, whereas regulations specified that length of time on board could not exceed 11 months ( International Labour Organization, 2015 ), most shipping companies were using 11 months as the norm. This meant that when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted crew changes, many seafarers found themselves on board for 11 months or more ( De Beukelaer, 2021 ). In this way, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated some of the pre-existing systemic problems in the maritime industry ( Shan, 2021 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of seafarers: A comparison using matched samples

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures implemented to curb its transmission have altered workplaces and challenged occupational health and safety in unprecedented ways, with high levels of mental distress reported across several industries. In the maritime industry, occupational health and safety risks, including psychosocial risks, were a concern already before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, knowledge about the prevalence of mental health problems and the factors associated with them is still limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the effects of respondent and work-related characteristics on seafarers’ self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. Data came from two cross-sectional convenience samples of seafarers on international commercial vessels, surveyed before (N pre-pandemic = 793) and during the pandemic (N pandemic = 504). Matching the two samples on respondent and work-related characteristics using propensity scores, we found that the pandemic contributed to significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety. Further analyses showed that seafarers with longer work periods, those who had been on board longer than expected, and those working on vessels registered with “Flags of Convenience” reported significantly higher levels of both depression and anxiety during the pandemic, but not prior to the pandemic. Taken together, these findings suggest that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a deterioration of working conditions and increased mental health risks for seafarers. Practical implications for safe-guarding occupational health and safety during this and future crises are discussed.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of seafarers: A comparison using matched samples

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on seafarers has been addressed in news coverage and social media reports [39] , editorials and overviews of the developments [13] , [15] , [48] , reports by welfare organizations [12] , [28] and descriptive studies on seafarers’ experiences during the pandemic [20] , [44] , [45] . A review of the information available suggests that the impact of the pandemic can be roughly grouped into three categories: (1) the impact on seafarers’ work and life on board, (2) the length of time seafarers have been on board and (3) seafarers’ employment and family concerns.…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, due to the delay or cancelation of crew changes, seafarers’ time on board may be extended. Thus they may be required to stay on board for longer, in some cases beyond what is permitted under international conventions [13] , [15] , [20] , [28] , [44] , [45] .…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on seafarers’ mental health and chronic fatigue: Beneficial effects of onboard peer support, external support and Internet access

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While commercial shipping remained vital for maintaining global supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic, measures imposed to control the spread of infection have disrupted crew changes and impacted interactions with port personnel and among crew members on board. Initial reports indicate that this affected work and life on board, the length of seafarers’ time on board as well as seafarers’ employment and family concerns. However, the consequences for seafarers’ well-being are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on seafarers’ mental health and chronic fatigue, and to analyze the role of potential mitigating factors, notably onboard peer support, external support and Internet quality. Survey responses from 622 seafarers on international commercial vessels were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings suggested that the impact of the pandemic increased seafarers’ fatigue and mental health problems. However, they also indicated ways of mitigating the negative impact of the pandemic and increasing resilience by enhancing support from fellow crew members on board, ensuring the availability of external support and providing fast and reliable Internet access.

show abstract

“…As a result, shipowners are often forced to deviate from the planned voyage to disembark the crew and embark on the replacements. This problem, while it concerns the safety of the crew and the ship, is at the same time a field of claims between shipowners and charterers [35] , [36] .…”

Section: Discussing the Issues Of Crew Changes And Deviation In Iocd ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Legal assessment of BIMCO’s infectious or contagious diseases (IOCD) clauses for voyage and time charter parties

Boviatsis

2022

Marine Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

COVID-19 border closures cause humanitarian crew change crisis at sea

Cited by 47 publications

References 2 publications

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of seafarers: A comparison using matched samples

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of seafarers: A comparison using matched samples

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on seafarers’ mental health and chronic fatigue: Beneficial effects of onboard peer support, external support and Internet access

Legal assessment of BIMCO’s infectious or contagious diseases (IOCD) clauses for voyage and time charter parties

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About