Focusing on marine crew change travel improves mental health
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Focusing on marine crew change travel improves mental health

A 2023 International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) whitepaper called Changing minds: saving lives at sea highlighted key wellbeing themes including the standardisation of mental health care, the importance of mental health being a priority issue for leadership and going beyond minimum care provision. The latter highlights a less obvious but crucial part of working at sea: crew change travel.

People-focused travel

Extending wellbeing and duty of care initiatives across the millions of miles travelled for crew rotations every year can contribute to improved mental health. It requires a comprehensive strategy to ensure that those responsible for organising crew changes can access a broader range of flight options, so they may better align itineraries with individual crew member needs & their often emotional state during their travel to or from their vessel.

Further, offering benefits like priority airport boarding ensures that crew can enjoy a more comfortable and less stressful travel experience on the way to work, and back home again. Facilitating easy contact with expert support and ensuring fast issue resolution in case of deviations from the plan are also essential to support employees en route.
Another important aspect of crew change travel wellbeing is safety, so companies with crew traveling to or from regions with political or social unrest may choose to provide personal tracking solutions, emergency support and critical communication services.

Travel management companies

It can be challenging to organise and sustain such a focus on wellbeing and safety outside of the workplace as the expertise and knowledge required may not be readily available. However, partnering with a specialist travel management company like ATPI can make it easier to access the solutions needed, and start improving the wellbeing of crew on their commute.

Additional costs incurred when e.g., offering direct flights, priority boarding and tracking beacons can be offset against savings a travel management partner can achieve, as well as against wider operating expenses. The IADC whitepaper states that there is a ‘correlation between accidents at work and peoples’ state of mind’, going on to say that ‘A lack of sleep due to stress or anxiety can lead to concentration lapses and potential accidents – putting the lives of the individual concerned and those nearby at risk’.

A crew member well rested when arriving for their rotation will surely be in a better position to work safer and more effectively. Further advantages of focusing on wellbeing for crew change travel can include lower recruitment and training costs, as being looked after even during travel to work and home again can contribute to an employee’s overall job satisfaction, and their likelihood to return for the next rotation.

Ultimately, choosing the right travel management company can have a significant impact on the wellbeing of professionals. ATPI staff work relentlessly to ensure that the individual seafarer’s state-of-mind and ability to work is always considered, while also ensuring that operational and financial aspects are fully accommodated.

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