Increasing Reports of Seafarers Experiencing Mistreatment, Harassment, and Discrimination
Increasing Reports of Seafarers Experiencing Mistreatment, Harassment, and Discrimination
ISWAN’s helplines have witnessed a staggering surge of nearly 50% in seafarers reporting incidents of abuse, bullying, harassment, and discrimination during Q1 2023, compared to the previous quarter.
The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) has taken a proactive step by releasing a series of quarterly infographics, presenting data from their helpline services.Â
These insights aim to provide the maritime industry with valuable intelligence on seafarer issues, fostering positive transformation.
ISWAN’s recently published infographic, “ISWAN Insights: Spotlight on Q1 2023,” underscores a concerning trend of growing cases related to mistreatment, bullying, harassment, and discrimination reported through their helplines. Across all ISWAN helplines, such incidents rose by an alarming 45% from Q4 2022 to Q1 2023.Â
These helplines extend practical, emotional, and well-being support to seafarers from all nationalities. Most instances involved abusive or bullying conduct by senior officers, with 19% of cases revolving around sexual abuse or harassment.
Within ISWAN’s Yacht Crew Help helpline, incidents of abuse, bullying, harassment, and discrimination surged by 125% quarter-on-quarter, highlighting a critical issue demanding attention within the superyacht industry.
Simon Grainge, the Chief Executive Officer of ISWAN, emphasized the significance of their helplines, SeafarerHelp and Yacht Crew Help, as primary sources of support for seafarers. Grainge explained that hundreds of seafarers reach out to them every month, sharing the challenges they face.Â
ISWAN aims to communicate the identified trends and issues to the maritime sector, urging transformative action.
Grainge further revealed that ISWAN’s data drives their own initiatives. For instance, in response to increased calls to Yacht Crew Help from inexperienced crew members who suffered abuse, including sexual abuse, while working on board, ISWAN is collaborating with industry partners to develop a personal safety resource for individuals seeking employment in the yacht sector.
ISWAN actively participates in the Center for Ocean Policy and Economics (COPE°) Working Group for Psychological Safety, Bullying, and Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Maritime Sector.Â
They join forces with like-minded individuals and organizations to explore and implement preventive solutions in response to this escalating crisis.
To access ISWAN’s infographic, “ISWAN Insights: Spotlight on Q1 2023,” please download it here. For further information, reach out to ISWAN at [email protected].
Seafarers who have experienced abuse, bullying, harassment, or discrimination can find support through ISWAN’s free, confidential, multilingual, 24-hour helplines.Â
SeafarerHelp (www.seafarerhelp.org) is available to all seafarers and their family members.Â
ISWAN’s helpline team is well-trained to provide emotional support and lend an empathetic ear to seafarers facing worries or problems.
