Researchers and maritime stakeholders met in London to discuss how research can contribute to better health, safety and wellbeing for seafarers.
The Safe & Sound at Sea initiative, developed within Working Group 1 “Maritime Occupations” of the RethinkBlue COST Action, brought together researchers and representatives from industry, labour, welfare organisations and international bodies. The RethinkBlue organizing team consisted of Birgit Pauksztat, Gesa Praetorius, Jasson Zuidema and Khanssa Lagdami. The programme started with a seminar at the University of Greenwich on 16 September, co-organized in collaboration with Laura William (University of Greenwich). This was followed by a stakeholder workshop at ITF House on 17 September and a final workshop for RethinkBlue researchers on 18 September to develop potential research projects. The programme also included a visit to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
Discussions identified research needs ranging from recruitment and retention, fatigue and health to technological change, AI, training, fair employment, geopolitical conflict and the green transition. A recurring message was the importance of putting people rather than technology firston.
Birgit Pauksztat, Co-Chair of RethinkBlue, said: “Our aim is not simply to produce more research. We want to identify the questions that matter to seafarers and maritime stakeholders, and develop research that can lead to meaningful improvements in policy and practice.”
Gesa Praetorius, from RethinkBlue Working Group 1, added: “Bringing researchers and maritime stakeholders together helps us move from identifying problems to developing concrete research ideas that can contribute to safer, healthier and more sustainable working lives at sea.”
The next step will be to develop selected research ideas emerging from the workshops into potential projects.
Further details you can download the report and list of participants and their respective interventions bellow.
Michael Briguglio
Science Communication Coordinator – RethinkBlue
sc@rethinkblue.eu
