Seafarers Happiness Index reveals a quarter of two halves as geopolitical conflict drives decline

○      Respondents in fear as drones and missiles seen flying close to vessels

○      Seafarers compare uncertainty to a ‘new pandemic.’

LONDON, 05 May 2026 – The Q1 2026 Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI) from The Mission to Seafarers has revealed a quarter of two halves. What began as an initial period of stabilisation was abruptly overturned by the outbreak of conflict in the Persian Gulf, leaving many seafarers with critically low necessities and in fear for their safety.

The quarterly survey was tracking upward at 7.35/10 early in the quarter, before dropping to 7.01/10 in the weeks following the start of the conflict. This 4.6% decline represented an unusually rapid rate of deterioration. Even seafarers operating outside the immediate conflict zone reported heightened stress and fear, describing the pervasive sense of uncertainty as a “new pandemic.”

The SHI is a quarterly survey conducted by The Mission to Seafarers, in partnership with Idwal and NorthStandard, and supported by Inmarsat, providing vital insight into the lives and experiences of those working at sea.

The report paints a stark picture of conditions for seafarers stranded in the conflict zone. Respondents described watching drones and missiles fly at low altitudes and hearing fighter jets pass close to their vessels. Stranded crews reported critical shortages of basic necessities, with some forced to boil seawater for drinking and ration food to a single daily meal. Many felt trapped in what the report characterises as a form of “de facto detention”: fearful that requesting relief or repatriation could see them blacklisted by shipping companies and unable to secure future employment.

Connectivity, usually a source of comfort, has become a further pressure point. Increased GNSS jamming made navigation dangerous and in the words of respondents, “terrifying” for captains, while internet blocking and communication blackouts in conflict zones severed seafarers from their families at moments of vital emotional need.

Outside of the Persian Gulf, the data reveals a deepening structural crisis. Workload management recorded the sharpest decline of any category, falling to 6.36/10. Seafarers report that rest hour records are frequently falsified to demonstrate regulatory compliance while actual working hours routinely reach 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week, with reduced crew numbers compounding the burden.

Despite the growing risks, wages have remained largely static for a decade, even as company profits and inflation have risen. Wage scores edged up slightly to 6.98/10, but senior officers, particularly Captains, report the lowest happiness scores of any rank, shouldering the greatest responsibility with the least support. Of particular concern for the industry’s long-term outlook: seafarers aged 25 to 35 represent the largest group of respondents and the least satisfied, pointing to a looming recruitment and retention crisis.

Ben Bailey, Director of Programme, The Mission to Seafarers, said: “The Q1 data tells two very different stories. The early signs were encouraging, wellbeing was improving and there were reasons for cautious optimism. But the outbreak of conflict in the Persian Gulf changed everything, and the speed of that deterioration should alarm us all. Behind these numbers are real people, stranded, frightened and cut off from their families. At the same time, the structural pressures we have been tracking for years have not gone away. The industry cannot afford to treat these as separate problems.”

Thom Herbert, Regional Lead, Asia and Crew Welfare Advocat at Idwal, commented: “This quarter’s Seafarers’ Happiness Index is a stark reminder of how quickly global events are felt by those at sea. What we see in the data mirrors what we hear across the industry: seafarers are carrying the human cost of geopolitical instability, alongside long‑standing pressures around workload, fatigue and time away from home.

“Seafarers operate on the front line of world trade, and through our work and conversations across the sector, including with surveyors and operators active in high‑risk regions, we see just how exposed they are to sudden shifts in global risk. This report reinforces the need for the industry to treat seafarer welfare not as an abstract priority, but as a critical responsibility.”

Yves Vandenborn, Head of Loss Prevention Asia-Pacific, NorthStandard, added: “This quarter’s Seafarers Happiness Index indicates a small drop that tells a much bigger story. It reflects how closely life at sea is tied to events ashore, especially during times of conflict whereby being caught in geopolitical tensions could mean physical danger, disruption to food and water, as well as delays in signing on/off – which quickly translates into risk, isolation and uncertainty. As an industry, we need to recognise this and do more to support those who keep global trade moving, especially when the world becomes less stable.”

To read the full findings from the Seafarers Happiness Index Q1 2026 report, click here.

About The Mission to Seafarers
The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to the 1.89 million men and women who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat. The Mission works in over 200 ports in 50 countries caring for seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs. Through its global network of chaplains, staff and volunteers, we offer practical, emotional and spiritual support to seafarers through ship visits, drop-in seafarers’ centres and a range of welfare and emergency support services.
 
The Seafarers Happiness Index is a barometer of the key issues facing those at sea, conducted every three months. Seafarers are asked ten key questions about their experiences, via an online survey.
 
About Idwal
Idwal is a global leader in vessel inspections, benchmarking and analysis, driving asset integrity, sustainability, and transparency in the maritime industry.
 
Idwal deploys a rigorous and standardised inspection process, underpinned by digital methodology covering 500+ on-board data points, to deliver market-leading inspection reports featuring the Idwal Grade®, a number between 1 and 100 showing the integrity of any maritime asset or investment whilst enabling easy comparisons at a glance.
 
Founded in 2010 by Graig Shipping PLC, Idwal is based in Cardiff, UK, with offices in Shanghai, Tokyo and Athens, and with an extensive surveyor network around the globe.
 
About NorthStandard
NorthStandard is one of the leading providers of global marine insurance products and services across the maritime industries. Established through the merger of North P&I Club and the Standard Club in February 2023, NorthStandard brings together over 300 years of marine insurance heritage. ‘A’ rated by S&P Global, NorthStandard has a premium income around US$800M and provides cover for over 390 million GT of owned and chartered tonnage.
 
From headquarters in the UK and with offices throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas, NorthStandard offers a unique blend of worldwide presence and class-leading expertise across multiple specialist areas, including P&I, FD&D, War Risks, Strike & Delay, Hull and Machinery and ancillary insurance. Its Sunderland Marine and Coastal & Inland divisions also provide cover for owners’ fixed premium P&I, fishing vessels, inland waterway and coastal trading vessels and aquaculture. NorthStandard’s comprehensive local market and sector knowledge is underpinned by continuous investments in market-leading digital technologies.
 
NorthStandard is a leading member of the International Group of P&I Clubs (IG) and is fully committed to upholding the shared objectives of its 12 independent member clubs, which provide liability cover for approximately 90% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage.
 
About Inmarsat
Inmarsat Maritime is now a Viasat business and continues to power the digitalisation of the maritime industry, making operations more efficient and safer than ever before. Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. On May 30, 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner.