As a seafarer, what single thing would improve your quality of life?

I would have to say shorter shifts - I find exhaustion is a real problem after a couple of weeks at sea.

define couple of weeks? one may be exhausted after 4 weeks short sea, another just after 3 months world wide trade

Edited: 06/26/2008 at 08:52 PM by clm

There are so many things on cruise ships to be improved when it comes to exploitation of the ship employees. These are the basic and necessary things that should be applied onto cruise ship policies immediately: 

Everyone working on a cruise ship should work reasonable amount of hours per day. If someone works overtime he/she should be payed for it.   Everyone should be entitled of at least one day off in a week if not two.     The salaries should improve drastically and there would be a lawfully determined minimum salary that company will be obligated to pay the employees.

I simply don't agree with the numbers that are set by the ILO Subcommittee on Wages of Seafarers of the Joint Maritime Commission:

-The minimum basic monthly wages are very low; $545 a month is a ridiculous amount for any crew member especially knowing how many millions of dollars the cruise industry is making & the amount of effort,time, sweat & energy the crew members put into their work on cruise ships.

- It is stated that normal working hours suppose to be 8 per day, 48 per week..This is the biggest joke I have ever heard! I have never met or even heard of anyone on cruise ships that works 8 hours per day or 48 hours per week (unless that person is a manager or any higher rank). It's more likely to be this amount TIMES TWICE.

- The least amount of leave days is 30...If one is being truly realistic then one can conclude that after working 12-16 hours every day straight for 6 months on a cruise ship - will 30 days be enough time for him/her to rest properly, sleep properly, eat properly & spend time with the family? The leave time should be set on 3 months at least after being overworked as a horse by cruise ship company.

- Overtime rate - such a term doesn't exist once you put you foot inside the cruise ship. No matter if you worked 4 hours per day or 20 hours per day - your salary at the end of the month will still the same. And if you dare to ask the officials to be paid the overtime that you worked you will not achieve anything good with it - you will only be laughed on & you will definitely increase your chances to get fired.

- Weekly rest day and Public Holidays - work performed on the weekly day of rest and on public holidays should be compensated by overtime remuneration....This is what says in your Basic Rights Under ILO. There's no such thing as weekly rest day on cruise ships - everyone's working straight 7 days a week & you might get a day off only if you prove that you are really sick. Overtime renumeration, overtime paid rate, weekly day off & public holidays are just imaginary & wishful thinking by the crew members.

It would be a good improvement to put also a international phonebook on the ITFseafarerssite where crew can find anumber required by them in their home countrey, since we encounter this problem that numbers not aduquate stored ore not obtainable.

The can log in the site and browse for them selves and find what they need.

This suggestion come's from Seafarers Mission Eemshaven The netherlands.

Regards Bamse.

Hi Bamse. Do you know that one can find all contact details from ITF Inspectors, ITF Contacts and ITF affiliated unions on this website under Find and Inspector or Union tab.

Phone, internet access. Plus a email system that works when sat for phone and internet is down. I have sailed on an australian manned BP tanker ship with this. ALL SHIPS NEED IT.

Especially as 50% of seafarers that die at sea from an injury leading to death is from Suicide and Homicide worldwide.

Basic human rights to have contact with loved ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Just discovered the ITF Site. As a seafarer I think having a bit more paid leave would improve the quanity of life at home presently I work usually about 9month contracts and then have 2 months off then standby awaiting for the next contract. The last month you can't do to much with family as you need to be prepared to leave once you get a call.

 

- Sweettic, is it really true that 50% of deaths at sea are due to suicide or homicide? That really is depressing! No wonder people dont wanna go to sea!!!

I would agree that more paid leave would improve home life.... and companies employing you as fulltime employees rather than contract to contract would also mean that you are able to manage your family life when on leave !!!!!

 

What do you mean by fulltime employees... all ships that iI have sailed on only do contract by contract, but sometimes it the same ship, same position and same owners. If you are saying that in those circumstances that then seafarers should be considered full time employees then I agree !

One thing that would help I believe would make life at sea better would be shorter contracts presently I work 9 months +1 or -1, never usually -1.

4 to 6 months contracts would be better, some of the european officers onboard our ship only work for 4 months and then have over 2 months leave, that would be good for all the crews.

Anchor me

 

4 to 6 months contracts would be good for me, but wonder if the companies would agree as they would say that it will cost them more ?

As someone has said some companies offer officers shorter contracts and more leave so why not for other crewmembers ?

Education,would make someone to be well informed with ones life.

Yes, kiwi23, it would be a higher cost for the employers, but on the other hand, they would have a much more healthy and fit crew and less fatigue, with more paid leave and 4 -6 months contract!   

I would agree with both Chidem and Kiwi 23. The best thing would be education, awareness of one's right and priviledges, and the best route to that is discovering, and getting access to ITF site!!!!

That way, all the stresses and pressures for the seafarers; like rest and work hours, lenght of contracts, family contact, peer supports, and pressures, equality issues, harrassment(all forms: physical, mental, emotional, and sexual).... would all be put into its proper perspectives.

Life everywhere is not easy. Life in itself is not perfect. But knowledge is power most especially if use for good.

Wow, that's kind of..deep! Cool! I really recommend this website to everyone I meet, at sea or ashore!