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 Arabian 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 Arabian 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 Arabian 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.”
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