Case Studies:
Crew Wellbeing in Focus

Case study 1: Crew-change crisis

More than 85% of accidents at sea are a result of human error, the anxiety experienced by stranded crew takes on a troubling significance. Studies have shown that prolonged anxiety can cause crews to stop listening and essentially shut down.

At West, we have always gone above and beyond to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of the crew. On one occasion during the early days of Covid and the crew change crisis, when cruising came to a halt, we assisted in the process of our Members using one of their

cruise ships to embark crew from their other various stranded ships and use that ship to sail from the US to Europe and drop off crew in their countries of origin.

Case study 2: Taking care of injured crew

In the cases of serious injury, we access on a case-to-case basis what would be in the best interest of the seafarer’s wellbeing and recovery journey.

Recently, in a case of a Ukrainian crewmember who fell and suffered a serious brain injury in Australia in May 2022, West paid for his family (mother-in-law, wife and 2yr old daughter) to travel from Ukraine to Australia to be with the crewmember during his medical treatment and rehabilitation.

The crewmember is currently still undergoing rehabilitation treatment, speech cognitive behaviour treatment, as an outpatient in Australia as we cannot find any suitable facilities in Ukraine for him to go back to, due to the war and all facilities being used to treat war casualties.

It was important he was kept there
until reaching his maximum medical improvement and was able to fly home.