HOW LONG IS YOUR CONTRACT?

Seafaring, as one of the oldest human professions, has been developing through the ages, and still does, however, certain aspects are stagnating.

Just a few days ago, at the children's playground, I overheard a conversation between two seafarers. Both fathers, they've discussed the lengths of each other contracts, emphasizing how important it is to bail long ones and stay onboard for shorter periods. As a seasoned crew myself, I easily related to that. In the aftermath, the contracts' length seems to be a burning issue within the seafarers' circles, while the companies are keeping it as taboo as it gets.

Post-pandemic, companies would push for long contracts, and extensions, under the explanation of difficult crew change, caused by local regulations, or travel restrictions. But is it really like that? Sure, there are ample bureaucratic challenges one may face, but in the end, what matters should be the crew and crew only.

Make no mistake, by stating this, I still lean towards maritime companies' success, as ultimately, they are the ones who provide jobs and salaries. But let us ask important questions first. How efficient is an employee who operates in a dynamic, highly stressful environment 24/7, after three or four months onboard? Sometimes, even after two months, I would set the autopilot, and work by default, as the challenges and fatigue would start building up, but not all of us can have this luxury. Captains, chief engineers, deck officers, and engineers, must stay fresh, sharp, and responsive, which, after six months of contracts, becomes very difficult to obtain.

Another factor is - the families. Living in an era of quick travel, and easy communications, it's hard to believe one has to spend nearly a year, on a vessel, distanced from family. As mental health concerns raise more and more attention, this may prove as a prevailing factor in the future, when speaking of moderating crew contracts on a large scale.

So, let's see what general thoughts are. My idea, as a fellow crew, was to initiate a healthy conversation about this topic. What is your take? For how long would you prefer your contracts set, and what are your suggestions?

Fair winds, and smooth seas, everyone!

*This story was written by an experienced crew member working on a cruise ship*