NorthStandard: Data sharing to drive technology and improve crew wellbeing

In an exclusive interview with Captain Yves Vandenborn, Head of Loss Prevention, Asia Pacific at NorthStandard, we explore how to enhance seafarer resilience. Seafarers must be well-prepared and thoroughly trained for life at sea, with their welfare and wellbeing remaining a central concern. In this effort, both education and technology play a crucial role.

While technology enables us to gather and analyse data to better understand issues and trends- allowing for more informed action – Captain Yves highlights an ongoing reluctance to share data. Even within the International Group of P&I Clubs, consolidating data remains a challenge, particularly when the information is sensitive, such as that relating to crew illness or injury. He emphasizes that a greater willingness to share data, even in anonymised form, will be essential to developing technologies that genuinely support and enhance crew wellbeing.

SAFETY4SEA: Why is crew welfare such a strategic priority for NorthStandard, and what are the organization’s key priorities in this area?

Captain Yves Vandenborn: The critical importance of crew welfare was fully exposed by the conditions many seafarers faced during Covid-19, and amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) in April this year by the International Labour Organization (ILO), formally recognising seafarers as ‘key workers’. This is a recognition of their vital role in global trade that also accepts the need for clearer regulations for shore leave and better health protocols onboard ships, easier access to medical care and travel, and stronger support at all times. It is also an acknowledgement of the clear link between crew wellbeing and the safe and efficient operation of a ship.

S4S: How does NorthStandard define “resilience” in the context of a seafarer’s daily life and responsibilities at sea?

Capt. Y.V.: Being a seafarer can involve extended periods away from home and family, during which the individual is relied upon by others to complete time sensitive tasks and respond to unexpected challenges, sometimes in hostile conditions, that can create stress that cannot be avoided.  Seafarers need to be prepared and sufficiently well trained for a life at sea, with their welfare and wellbeing a key consideration when equipping them with the resilience they will need. To foster that resilience and mitigate risks on board, seafarers also need to know that the framework and procedures are in place that help them deal with stress that invariably comes with the job and its root causes.

S4S: What are the most pressing challenges seafarers currently face regarding their physical and mental well-being?

Capt. Y.V.: Taking a broader view, modern seafaring involves long contracts on board and lean crewing numbers. Both offer challenges for wellbeing. It is all the more important that we raise seafarer awareness, not only the need for undisturbed rest, but also the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise. Quite often we also find that seafarers do not have proper medical insurance when off-contract, which can lead to them suppressing symptoms or treatment.  In a stressful environment, it’s also essential that people working together in close quarters are aware of cultural or religious differences between the various nationalities on board and educated to respect those differences.  Shipowners face a multitude of solutions, service providers and apps that promise to solve various crew welfare issues and often do not see the wood for the trees. Our experience and knowledge can be invaluable to owners seeking to evaluate the promised benefits for any new human resource service, procedure or technology, a service we’re looking to offer members in the future.

S4S: What are the key health risk factors facing seafarers today? Have any notable trends or concerns emerged that warrant greater focus?

Capt. Y.V.: Analysis of the club’s illness claims continues to show the same trend: different nationalities have issues with different things, but in general these issues have remained the same. It is our view that more needs to be done to focus seafarers’ attention on these underlying causes and to educate them on how to better take care of their wellbeing. Off course, education is only the beginning of the answer and seafarers need to be given the tools to improve their wellbeing.

S4S: What improvements have you seen in crew welfare over recent years, and which areas still require significant attention?

Capt. Y.V.: Technology has made a huge difference. From increasing availability of affordable internet on board, to improving telemedicine, to providing a wide variety of apps for many purposes. I would also say that it is very much a positive development that wellbeing is properly out there as a topic for discussion, although it’s also critical that the talk leads to action. As noted, MLC was recently amended but regulators also need to catch up – both MLC and STCW – by putting clear requirements in place.

S4S: What role does technology play in supporting seafarers’ well-being, and how can data be used to develop effective wellness strategies?

Capt. Y.V.: Better seafarer connectivity has had a huge impact, but technology has also allowed us to gather more data and analyse it in increasingly sophisticated ways so that we can understand the issues and take the right action. Unfortunately, there’s a reluctance to share data. Even within the International Group of P&I Clubs, it is difficult to get consolidated data, and that is even more the case where data is sensitive – for example, if it concerns crew illness or injuries. We think that a greater willingness to share data – even on an anonymised basis – will be key to developing technologies that truly help improve crew wellbeing.

S4S: Following recent industry efforts, how feasible is access to medical care for seafarers today? Where do we stand, and what further progress is needed?

Capt. Y.V.: Telemedicine has come a long way from the days that we needed to use the VHF to call up help. Today, on-board tools can be connected via Bluetooth to a computer and uplinked to a live feed telecall with a doctor. To add one qualification, however, the training given to seafarers for providing medical care onboard has not made progress and remains very limited. Our experience is that seafarers are reluctant to give a colleague an injection, for example, even when a doctor is watching via live feed. Consideration should be given as to whether to improve training or provide refresher courses – or both.

S4S: In your opinion, has the industry handled crew welfare effectively so far? What more can be done to shift both seafarers’ and the industry’s mindset toward healthier, more sustainable lifestyles?

Capt. Y.V.: Crew welfare and wellbeing is getting the attention it deserves, but it is essential that the global shipping industry ‘walks the talk’. A lot is now available to seafarers onboard, but more can be done to support them during their off-contract period – both in form of providing medical insurance for GP/dental, but also by providing guidance for staying healthy while on leave.

S4S: What would be on your “wish list” for the industry, regulators, and all stakeholders to enhance seafarer resilience in a meaningful way?

Capt. Y.V.: Enhancing seafarer resilience could be achieved in a number of ways. For example, changes to the minimum safe manning requirements could be considered. The industry needs a clearer explanation that there is a difference between the minimum safe manning to navigate from point A to B and the minimum to fully operate/maintain a ship between two ports with a cargo on board. As mentioned, seeing the changes to MLC to better support mental wellbeing would be a strong step. There is also considerable potential benefit in there being a regulatory requirement for mental health first aid training on board, and for there to be a ‘mental health champion’ on the ship.

S4S: Are there any new initiatives or upcoming projects by NorthStandard related to crew welfare that you would like to share?

Capt. Y.V.: In response to a worryingly high number of seafarers boarding vessels with pre-existing medical conditions, NorthStandard has reviewed its Enhanced Pre-Employment Medical (PEME) programme. Operating in the Philippines, India, and Ukraine, with guidance available for members choosing clinics in other parts of the world, the NorthStandard PEME programme helps to safeguard the lives of crew while saving members time and money.  In addition, the club is currently reviewing the various wellbeing services it offers with a view to further launches in the near future. In doing so, we will make use of all of the data at our disposal.

S4S: If you could change one thing to make an immediate and profound impact on crew welfare, what would it be and why?

Capt. Y.V.: If I am looking at what makes a difference right now, day-to-day, I’d say our experience shows crew welfare as being benefited directly when the seafarer knows that additional support is being given to his/her family, whether that’s during the contract or in off-contract periods. At a deeper level, I can do no more than remind owners that – even on a dispassionate basis – the safety and wellbeing of the crew looking after the assets on which they have spent so much really is worth prioritising.

source : safety4sea