Psychosocial burden, vaccination status and preventive information options for seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic

The vaccination rate of seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic was initially low. Along with the well-known crew change crises, it likely placed a high psychosocial burden on shipping crews. The aim of this work is to assess the vaccination rate, determine triggers for psychosocial symptoms and emphasize preventive-psychological information channels and media for seafarers. In March 2022, 583 seafarers and 24 office workers from the same shipping company were surveyed by using a questionnaire. It included the standardized Fear of Coronavirus Questionnaire and further questions on COVID-19. A total of 479 (81.3%) participants had been vaccinated. However, office workers were 31 times more likely to have received a basic immunization with one booster vaccination than seafarers (CI 12.0-81.9). Seafarers had significantly more often fear of Corona-related health consequences than office workers (73.9% vs. 41.7%, OR 4.0, CI 1.7-9.1) - also, ratings 2.5 times more than officers (81.2% vs. 63.3%; p < 0.001). In addition, seafarers - and among them the ratings in particular - rated the pandemic burden regarding social and financial impacts significantly higher. Although 75% of seafarers felt (very) well informed about COVID-19 issues and vaccination, they were 20.9 times more interested in further information than office workers (CI 2.8-155.5). For all seafarers, the shipping company, ship personnel and international organizations were the most regularly used sources of information. This study indicates that the COVID-19 vaccination rate was lower among seafarers than the shore-based population. This can lead to increased pandemic-related psychosocial stress. Improving the dissemination of information could contribute to better coping strategies in seafaring. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of supporting seafarers in future crises and the need to improve international strategies for the treatment of seafarers as key workers.