SEAFARING – SACRIFICE OR A REWARD?

Written by: Masa Stampic, Master in Humanities in International Maritime Legislation

Is a seafarer’s life “bread with seven crusts” or an opportunity to earn up to €100,000?

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “seafarer”?

Great earnings
Constant travel
All-inclusive adventure on board beautiful ships
Excitement of foreign ports

Or perhaps you think:

Long absence from family
Limited social and living conditions
Harsh weather
No land in sight for months

Let’s try to put on the shoes of a seafarer!

I’ve read the story of a seafarer from the Philippines who described his first voyage like this: "At 23, I saw the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, and snow in Norway, all in the same year. But I also missed my sister’s wedding, my father’s funeral, and my birthday, three years in a row." That’s the reality of life at sea: breathtaking horizons, but often at a personal cost.

Ukrainian engineer once said: "I signed a 6-month contract. Then COVID hit. No flights, no relief crew. I stayed onboard for 14 months. The contract said one thing, reality said another." His case wasn't unique. Despite the MLC’s provisions on maximum contract length and shore leave, thousands were stuck at sea with little recourse.

An Indian deck cadet shared: "We had internet, but it cost $10 an hour. So, I had to choose between calling my mother for her birthday, or saving money for when I got home." Even in 2025, many seafarers remain digitally isolated, despite growing recognition that connectivity is essential for mental health and basic dignity.

But there is always light in the dark, a captain from Montenegro once said to me: "Yes, we face storms, real and metaphorical. But I’ve also watched crew members coming from five nations becoming family over dinner. That kind of unity, you can’t buy or fake."

For many, despite the hardships, seafaring still offers a sense of purpose and brotherhood unmatched in any land-based job.

Historically, the call of the sea was often driven by a thirst for adventure. Today, however, life at sea is more commonly seen as a sacrifice, sort of a demanding profession undertaken to provide a better life for one’s family. Despite advances, the human element in shipping still requires significant attention in order to prevent loss of life, injury, injustice, or inhumane treatment. This remains the “dark side” of the industry, one where international efforts are often insufficient. On board, you can only rely on yourself and your colleagues, if you are lucky to have good people around you.

Who is a Seafarer - Rights and Realities

The broad definition of a “seafarer” under the MLC, 2006 (Maritime Labour Convention) has raised multiple concerns. For instance, under national law, a person considered a “seafarer” according to the MLC might also qualify as an “employee” under EU law. However, someone excluded from the MLC’s definition could still be recognized as an employee when determining jurisdiction or applicable law.

Seafaring can be rewarding, not least due to high salaries and extended periods of leave between voyages. These conditions often allow seafarers to secure a good life for their families. Notably, ancient maritime codes offered seafarers better medical care than most modern land-based employees receive today, and also required that crews be repatriated and adequately fed at the voyage’s end.

However, accessing legal protection is far more complicated at sea. Unlike land-based workers, seafarers often lack immediate access to legal systems and institutions. Given the international nature of their work, cases usually fall under foreign jurisdictions. As such, seafarers require special protections. And that is the irony in a way - they are highly skilled, but also vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and discrimination. In many ports, they are foreigners and sometimes treated with suspicion by local authorities.

Isolation and the Mental Health Burden

Restricted living conditions and prolonged separation from family are among the greatest threats to a seafarer’s mental well-being. These factors, though often overlooked, significantly influence morale and long-term efficiency.

As shared by many researchers and professionals, the influence of family life is immense, particularly during children’s formative years, something that financial security cannot fully compensate for.

Welfare on Board is also a Human Right

Welfare refers to a person's or a group's health, happiness, and fortunes, as well as the legal procedures or social efforts aimed at improving the basic physical and material well-being of those in need. As a result, in a maritime setting, welfare on board can be defined as a summation of all the required necessities for seafarers to be healthy and happy, as well as all the statutory procedures the international shipping community should implement to handle this vital issue.

Ironically, one of the key threats to seafarers’ welfare today is technological advancement. While automation and port efficiency benefit shipowners, shorter port stays, fewer crew members, and increased profits, these same innovations often add pressure on human workers, reducing rest time and increasing stress.

But humans are not machines. Seafarers are expected to perform at the speed of technology yet without the downtime, support, or predictability technology enjoys. Younger crew members may rely more heavily on automation, potentially losing vital manual and situational skills essential in emergencies.

Fatigue, Pressure, and Reduced Crew Sizes

A central issue affecting seafarer welfare is crew reduction. As ships become more automated, the expectation is for fewer crew members to do more work, leading to chronic fatigue, reduced safety, and a diminished quality of life. Seafarers often face unpredictable working conditions, unlike those in most land-based jobs, which can shift dramatically due to weather, operational changes, or emergencies. Such moments often expose the fragility of welfare systems on board. Even during critical events, seafarers must keep their composure, safeguard the vessel, and protect others on board.

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a major wake-up call for the entire industry, forcing both IMO and labor conventions to adapt. The experience not only highlighted systemic weaknesses but also reaffirmed the essential role of seafarers in the global supply chain.

The pandemic severely disrupted global crew changes in 2020. Travel restrictions left over 300,000 seafarers stranded at sea, unable to be repatriated, while an equal number remained unemployed ashore, unable to join their ships. Many had to stay on board well beyond the 11-month limit set by the MLC, 2006, increasing fatigue and the risk of accidents. As one health and safety manager stated: "Insufficient resources and inadequate training during the early stages of the pandemic further endangered crews". The Diamond Princess incident remained a stark warning of the occupational hazards faced at sea under such conditions.