The Faroese Maritime Authority has carried out a comprehensive survey on the social work environment, well-being, and bullying onboard Faroese vessels.
The survey confirms that there are challenges. About 70% of respondents are satisfied with the social environment onboard, while 30% are not.
20% have to some degree experienced bullying or harassment in some form. The goal should be that no one experiences bullying in their work at sea.
The survey is extensive and includes 40 questions about seafarers’ experiences over the past five years. Some of the key findings are:
- 72% have experienced gossip or backbiting onboard.
- 26.7% have experienced or witnessed harassment, bullying, or discrimination based on gender, skin color, nationality, or religion.
- 49.6% have received derogatory comments.
- 33.9% have experienced or witnessed social exclusion.
- 19.5% have experienced violence or threats — either directed at others or themselves.
- 9.3% have experienced unwanted physical contact with sexual undertones.
Age and Position Matter
In general, younger seafarers aged 26–35 report the most negative experiences. The survey also shows that officers on the bridge and in the engine room are less satisfied with the social environment than other groups.
Smaller Fishing Vessels Face Greater Challenges
Negative experiences are more common onboard fishing vessels than merchant ships — especially smaller fishing vessels under 500 GT.
Across all vessel types, some crew members report negative experiences, and some believe management does not take bullying and harassment seriously. However, on fishing vessels under 500 GT, one in five seafarers feels the issue is not taken seriously.
Not Everyone Sees the Situation the Same Way
Perceptions of the social environment vary depending on one’s role onboard.
The survey shows that skippers generally have a more positive view of well-being than the rest of the crew. For instance, 86% of skippers say they have never experienced or witnessed exclusion in the past five years, while other crew members encounter this far more often.
The data also indicate that bullying and harassment most often come from colleagues at the same or higher level, making it difficult to report incidents.
Bullying Appears to Be Decreasing
Among those who have sailed for more than five years, most believe that bullying on Faroese ships is a declining problem or that the situation is not worsening.
This perception is particularly strong among crew on fishing vessels.
What the Survey Tells Us
Although the survey shows that a large majority of Faroese seafarers are generally satisfied with the social environment onboard, and that bullying and harassment only occur to a limited extent, the situation is still not satisfactory.
The goal should be that everyone feels safe and respected onboard.
However, it is encouraging that the issue appears to be improving rather than worsening.
The Faroese Maritime Authority Emphasizes That:
- Skippers and shipping companies should prioritize cohesion and well-being onboard and clearly state that bullying and unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated.
- In accordance with the MLC Convention and the ILO 188 Convention on working conditions for seafarers on merchant and fishing vessels, complaints may be submitted confidentially to the Faroese Maritime Authority.
- Shipping companies should have clear procedures for reporting problems, and management should have the right tools to handle such situations in accordance with the Faroese Act on Seafarers’ Working Conditions (§62).
- Social factors should be acknowledged as an important part of safety onboard, since social insecurity can affect both safety measures and attitudes toward safety.
Read More
The full report on bullying is available on the Faroese Maritime Authority’s website: www.fma.fo. The analysis goes into detail for each question.
For questions about the report, you may contact Ebba Marianna Joensen, officer at the Faroese Maritime Authority.
About the Survey
This questionnaire is the first of its kind in the Faroe Islands.
In total, 257 seafarers participated and answered the questions. It is estimated that around 3,400 seafarers work on Faroese-registered vessels, meaning the survey gives an indication rather than a complete picture.
Certain groups are underrepresented, such as women and foreign crew members on fishing vessels.
Read the full report here. (Only available in Faroese)
