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user by Konstantin
date 29 Sep, 2025

The team stays healthy: what ICS advises and why the new Gard report is alarming

Briefly. The insurer Gard has published its annual report: in 2024, the frequency of claims related to seafarer deaths was 25% higher than in the three years before the pandemic. Most deaths were due to illness, and the number of suicides exceeded fatal accidents. This is a clear signal: mental health is not a “soft topic,” but a voyage safety factor.

What the data actually showed

  • Post-pandemic effect. According to Gard, after COVID-19 the frequency of death-related claims increased by a quarter. This is not statistical “noise” but a trend that has persisted for several years in a row.
  • Why seafarers die. 83% of deaths in 2024 were due to illness. Stress is directly or indirectly linked to 8 of the 10 most common illnesses. At the same time, the number of suicides turned out to be higher than fatal injuries.
  • The scale of the problem. According to trade-media estimates, in 2024 over 90 fatal incidents among crews were recorded (around 4% of all “human” claims).

These figures resonate with what seafarers feel in practice: long contracts, unstable crew changes, limited sleep and contact with family — all of this “eats away” attention, team interaction, and ultimately safety.

ICS practices: how to make a ship “mentally healthy”

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and ISWAN have prepared simple yet effective approaches compiled in the Mentally Healthy Ships guide and a separate crisis-response guide. The essence is threefold: manage risks, promote a healthy environment, and have support and a clear response plan.

  1. A culture of care instead of stigma. People are more likely to seek help where it is safe for their reputation and contract. Open conversations about emotional state, clear company values in policy, and a guarantee of “no punishment” for seeking help — the basics are already set out in the guide.
  2. Simple “anti-stress” conditions on board. Scheduled sleep, proper rest between watches, the ability to contact home, physical activity, and a friendly atmosphere on watch are basic factors that directly affect errors and injuries.
  3. A crisis action plan. The ship should have a clear algorithm: notice — ask — act. ICS guidance recommends training officers to recognize signs of suicide risk, knowing how to support a person before professionals are involved, and whom to call immediately (TMAS, SeafarerHelp, etc.).
  4. Help contacts — in plain sight. ICS explicitly advises distributing “cheat sheets” on board: how to cope with stress, where to get 24/7 help, and what the “red flags” are. These are not papers “for inspectors,” but tools that work on the night watch.

News is news. What can crews do already this week?

  • A weekly 10-minute bridge talk. Briefly discuss workload, sleep, and tensions within the watch. The goal is not “finger-pointing,” but early detection of fatigue and stress. (ICS emphasizes: regular, calm conversations remove stigma.)
  • Paired check-ins. Assign buddies: once a week each asks simple questions — “How are you? How are you sleeping? How can I help?” — and suggests seeking help if needed.
  • Crisis algorithm at hand. Post in the mess room a brief ICS instruction on actions when suicide risk is present and hotline contacts (SeafarerHelp operates 24/7, in multiple languages).
  • Exercise without overdoing it. 15–20 minutes of movement daily — and your nervous system will thank you. ICS directly notes: basic habits are part of prevention if the company enables them.
  • Leadership communication. The master/chief engineer should send a clear signal: “Seeking help is normal.” This lowers the fear of losing a contract — the main barrier to openness.

Why this is about safety, not just “well-being”

Gard directly links personal condition with incident rates: lack of sleep, lack of support, and “disconnected” watches all erode attention and increase the risk of injuries and errors. If deaths are rising and suicides outpace accidents, then investing in simple things — from rest schedules to a “crisis plan” — is not optional but a risk-management element at the voyage level.

If you or a colleague feel unwell right now

Remember the ICS principle: a mental-health crisis is a medical emergency. Act according to shipboard procedures, contact TMAS, use official support hotlines — and do not leave the person alone.

Sources: Gard Crew Claims Report 2025: Key trends in seafarer health and safety; Gard Crew Claims Report 2025 — overview by SAFETY4SEA; Mentally Healthy Ships (ISWAN/ICS); Handling a Mental Health Crisis or Emergency and Spotting Suicidal Behaviour in Seafarers (ICS)