ISWAN surveyed around 400 seafarers from 29 nationalities and 55 respondents working on the shore. Around 53.8% have responded that decarbonisation has added to their workload at the ship. 44 percent of seafarers highlighted an increase in levels of stress, while 40 percent reported increased levels of fatigue. The current complexity in reporting hierarchy has increased the chances of errors.
About 34.4% of engineers onboard ships have responded a negative impact on their mental health, while 25% of deck officers have complained about the same issue. The workload and stress associated with switching between different fuels is taking a toll on the mental health of the marine engineers. By engaging with the seafarers and resolving their concerns relating to decarbonisation seafarers can be made the ambassadors driving the change to net zero, but if they are left uncared then decarbonisation can become a factor driving them out of this sector.
