Effects of wars on merchant seafarers: Study on experiences and concerns in the Russia-Ukraine war

Abstract

Merchant seafarers, the key workers of the global economy as stated by the International Maritime Organization, are becoming targets of armed attacks, even if they have nothing to do with weapons. Several ships have been assaulted, and their crew members have suffered in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war in the Black Sea. There is a developing area of interest in the mental well-being of seafarers; however, current studies mostly focus on the effects of piracy. This research aims to offer a novel model that may identify the effects of war on seafarers, and the importance of each contributing factor that may potentially induce a concern in merchant seafarers. According to the results, financial pressures dominated over other sources of concern, which include life safety risks. The findings of this study may offer valuable data to policymakers for developing strategies with respect to the protection and well-being of seafarers.