Danica Crewing Specialists has launched its annual Seafarers’ Survey for 2026, inviting seafarers worldwide to share their experiences to support more effective crewing strategies across the maritime industry.
The survey forms part of the organisation’s efforts to provide data-driven insights to shipowners and operators, helping them better understand and respond to key challenges around recruitment, retention, and remuneration.
By gathering direct feedback from those working on board, the survey aims to support more informed decision-making in an increasingly competitive and complex crew employment market.
The survey invites seafarers to provide feedback on a range of topics, including working conditions, wellbeing, job satisfaction and future career opportunities. These insights help shipping companies to understand the current state of the crew employment market, while helping to mitigate risks associated with vessel crewing.
The 2025 Seafarer Survey revealed a profession under increasing pressure. It showed that stress levels among seafarers were rising, with 44% reporting stress during their last contract, up from 35% the previous year, while 16% said they had experienced mental depression. In addition, 42% of respondents expect to retire from sea before the age of 55, raising concerns about long-term workforce sustainability.
At the same time, the survey highlighted areas of progress. More employers are investing in crew welfare, with private medical insurance now covering 24% of seafarers and their families, a 33% increase since 2019.
Training satisfaction has also improved, with 64% of respondents rating it as ‘very’ or ‘extremely useful’, and new areas such as cybersecurity are emerging.
Retention is also strengthening, with more seafarers choosing to stay longer with their current employers. However, challenges remain, including late salary payments, with 30% of seafarers reporting delays and 9% stating they did not receive full payment.
“What stands out from our 2025 survey is that improvements alone are not enough. Rising stress levels and earlier retirement expectations suggest there are deeper structural challenges the industry still needs to address,” said Henrik Jensen, founder and CEO, Danica Crewing Specialists.
“Too many companies are today crewing their vessels using only one or a couple of nationalities. To mitigate crew shortage risks, the crew intake should be spread across more countries including emerging crew recruitment markets,” he said.
“We strongly encourage all seafarers to take part in this year’s survey. Their experiences and perspectives are essential in helping us and the wider industry understand what is working, where improvements are needed, and how we can build a better future for those at sea,” Jensen said.
All responses to the survey are anonymous to ensure honest and open feedback.
For seafarers, the 2026 survey is now open and can be accessed here. Read last year’s survey here.
