(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) COVID-19 Working Group (C-19 WG) encourages mariners from all segments of the U.S. maritime industry to take 10 minutes to anonymously complete an online survey, “Mariner Mental Health Needs During COVID-19.”
The confidential survey asks mariners a variety of questions about COVID-19, mental health and their experiences and feelings when aboard a vessel during the challenges of this worldwide pandemic. No mariner identification data will be collected. Survey participation from a significant portion of the mariners in each industry segment is critical to understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their mental health. The survey is available through May 31.
Results from the survey will be shared with federal agencies, vessel owners/operators, mariner unions, maritime training institutions, seafarer welfare organizations and MTS stakeholders to facilitate development of effective solutions that benefit mariners’ mental well-being.
Mariner unions, vessel operators, vessel owners, mariner training institutions and industry associations are requested to encourage and facilitate the prompt participation of their mariners in this survey. MTS stakeholders are requested to widely distribute this announcement within the U.S. maritime industry.
The survey is being conducted independently by Dr. Marissa Baker, assistant professor and industrial hygiene program director, University of Washington School of Public Health. Individual responses will be kept confidential at the school. The survey allows mariners to skip any question which they do not wish to answer.
This survey is supported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the COVID-19 Working Group. The C-19 WG serves as the CMTS forum for facilitating high-level interagency discussion, communication and actions in support of the MTS during and after COVID-19. The C-19 WG has published the following resources for mariners and the U.S. Marine Transportation System:
• Catalog of COVID-19 federal guidance and references for the U.S. maritime industry
• Catalog of COVID-19 best management practices for the U.S. maritime industry
The Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) – whose members include vessel owners/operators, mariner unions, maritime academies, maritime training institutions, classification societies other maritime industry stakeholders and government agencies – is also actively supporting this project to enhance the mental well-being of U.S. mariners.
Email questions, comments or concerns regarding the survey to Dr. Marissa Baker at bakermg@uw.edu and Nuns Jain, staff lead, C-19 WG, at C19WG@cmts.gov.
– Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP)
