The latest Seafarers Happiness Index has delivered a modest rise in overall wellbeing, but behind the improved score lies a workforce still straining under growing demands and uncertainty.
The fourth quarter of 2025 recorded an average happiness rating of 7.26 out of 10, a welcome recovery from the sharp dip to 7.05 in the previous quarter. Yet researchers caution that this uplift does not signal a return to stability.
The report paints 2025 as a year of fluctuating morale, with inconsistent results revealing deeper structural challenges.
Persistent crewing difficulties remain at the heart of concern, alongside emerging issues that have now become too significant to ignore.
One of the most worrying developments is the increasing use of riding squads. Intended to be short-term specialist contractors brought aboard for specific tasks, these temporary teams are reportedly staying on vessels for extended periods, in some cases displacing fully qualified crew.
Respondents describe rising tensions between permanent seafarers and contractors, warning that this practice threatens onboard safety and undermines the future maritime workforce.
The situation is compounded by an ageing pool of seafarers and ongoing recruitment struggles across the industry
Ports, meanwhile, continue to be a source of frustration. Many seafarers describe port environments as unwelcoming or even hostile, citing poor transport arrangements, obstructed access to shore leave, and dismissive treatment by gate staff. Support services are said to falter at critical moments, leaving crews feeling isolated when they most need assistance.
Shore leave remains one of the lowest-rated aspects of seafaring life, scoring 6.72 in the fourth quarter, just above welfare at 6.7.
The problem is not limited to port conditions alone. Heavy workloads, reduced crew sizes and relentless administrative demands are eroding rest time.
Reports of questionable record-keeping for rest hours persist, while paperwork, audits and inspections continue to pile pressure onto already stretched schedules. Some seafarers disclosed working more than 84 hours a week.