The latest Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI) developed by Mission to Seafarers indicates a slight improvement in well-being at the end of a volatile 2025. However, given the current situation on the seas and oceans, 2026 may be worse.

The overall job satisfaction score on merchant ships rose to 7.26 out of 10 in the fourth quarter of 2025. This was up from 7.05 in the third quarter, but significantly below 7.55 in the second quarter of last year. Anxiety is growing due to geopolitical turmoil and working on ships affected by sanctions.

2025 proved to be a year of significant mood swings among crews sailing on merchant ships. For many nations, working on a ship remains attractive, but it poses a significant professional and mental challenge.

“Around the world, we all rely on the oceans for food, energy, and the transportation of goods, yet working at sea remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the world,” emphasizes Beth Elliot, Director of Strategic Communications at Lloyd’s Register.

Beth Elliot notes: “While 90% of global trade and fuel is carried by sea, the 1.89 million seafarers working on 50,000 merchant ships are often invisible to the general public, and therefore ‘out of sight, out of mind.’” He believes: “In ‘invisible’ professions like shipping, occupational safety challenges persist.” The risks of working at sea are still significantly greater than in many other professions.

Working Beyond the Limit

Researchers from World Maritime University and Solent University also conducted research on seafarer utilization on ships. They found that procedural and regulatory limitations in port state control allow widespread non-compliance with regulations on seafarers’ hours of work and rest to go undetected. Seafarers reported working an average of 74.9 hours per week.

Crew knowledge and skills are also a problem. Ships are being assigned increasingly poorly trained deckhands. In reports from 2025, senior officers increasingly expressed concern about the basic navigation skills of their junior colleagues, especially in the face of increasing threats related to GNSS jamming or shutdown.

A new topic is the introduction of new technologies on ships. It turns out that there are discrepancies between the devices and systems designed at the desk and the maritime reality. Systems, and even ships, designed without proper consultation with officers and sailors result in discrepancies in skills and understanding of the designed technical systems.

The 2025 results indicate significant disruptions in the safety, competence, well-being, and sustainability of the workforce. “The SHI [Seafarer Happiness Index – MG] clearly reflects what our surveyors are seeing firsthand: highly professional, resilient seafarers are coping with increasing workloads, shorter shore leave periods, and increasing crew demands,” emphasized Thom Herbert, Regional Director for idwal in Asia.

Seafarer Well-Being Is Not an Abstraction

He believes that data from the diagnostic survey confirms that “well-being cannot be treated as an abstract metric – it is felt daily on board and has real implications for safety, retention, and the long-term health of the industry.”

A significant number of seafarers struggle to utilize their leave. A report by World Maritime University and Solent University states, among other things: “Shore leave is in many cases: rare, short, and at risk of being lost.” More than a quarter of respondents reported not taking shore leave at all, and a third were ashore only once or twice throughout their contract. Respondents reported that seafarers without leave spend “an average of 6.6 months on board.”

Numerous barriers were cited in the responses, including port state restrictions. Seafarers reported that port time is often limited and workloads are excessive. Frequently cited were the company’s unfriendly policies towards shipboard employees and the high cost of transport to work.

The overall satisfaction level rose to 7.39 in Q4 from 7.04 in Q3 of the previous year. Positive responses dominated, with seafarers emphasizing pride in their profession. Most respondents positively assessed financial security and the unique privileges of life at sea. Seafarers responding to the diagnostic survey generally noted that they worked in “clean air, peace, and a positive atmosphere.”

Positive comments were made about the working atmosphere. The opportunity to work “among a diverse group of people and feel like a family” was emphasized. However, there were also negative responses. Flaws in ship command were highlighted. Negative ratings highlighted “poor leadership by management. Lack of social care for the crew.”

The SHI confirms the findings of researchers from World Maritime University and Solent University. The problem in many cases is “no shore leave for months. Isolation from the community and family.” Complaints included “long working hours.” It was emphasized that poor work comfort is caused by the poor weather conditions in which work is often required. Some respondents complained about the poor quality of rest on board.

Seafarers also express concerns about the effects of sailing in war-prone zones and working for companies that facilitate trade between countries subject to sanctions. Geopolitical storms are viewed negatively by officers and sailors.