Report warns shore leave is in danger of extinction

A new report from the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and the World Maritime University (WMU) highlights the continuing absence of shore leave for the world’s seafarers. Analysing the data from 5,879 seafarers who responded to the trust’s shore leave survey, WMU researchers concluded that more than a quarter of seafarers did not get any shore leave at all, and a third only got ashore once or twice during their entire contract, based on an average of 6.6 months onboard.

The ITF Seafarers’ Trust opened the shore leave survey in mid-2024 to test the concern that shore leave seemed to be progressively harder to access.

Working with the team at the WMU to analyse the data, the resulting report seeks to give a true picture of the current levels of shore leave available to seafarers, how often it happened, how long it lasted, and to look at possible barriers.

The report paints a sorry picture of access to shore leave and shore-based services. Officers were least likely to get shore leave, and seafarers on offshore vessels and tankers were the least likely to get ashore. Across all respondents, even when seafarers did get shore leave, 47% were able to spend less than three hours ashore and overall, 93.5% spent less than six hours ashore.      The data shows that the barriers to shore leave are multiple and systemic: minimal crewing and high workloads, increasing inspections, port security and operational efficiencies leading to lack of time in port, lack of shore-based facilities and costs of transport. All these and multiple other issues result in a situation where the current system means that for seafarers to recuperate with shore leave is an unattainable dream in many ports.

Katie Higginbottom, head of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, said: “...We hope that the findings will promote discussion and acknowledgement that seafarers deserve a break from the vessel. Action must be taken to preserve the possibility of shore leave.”

At a time when mental health and well-being are recognised as important considerations for seafarers’ health and safety on board, access to shore leave should be promoted to ensure the safe management of the vessel, the 47-page report states, adding that given the looming crew shortages, affording decent opportunities for relaxation from work should be a priority for attracting and retaining crew.      “All stakeholders, from flag states to port states, agents to shipping companies and seafarers themselves, need to recognise that the current regime is leading towards the extinction of shore leave as a viable concept,” the report urges.