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We are in the second week of our Connecting Crew campaign, and today we are sharing ideas for crew members on how to give the social life on board a boost.

Connecting with those around you can benefit the wellbeing of everyone on board. At a time when many seafarers have had their contracts extended or are stranded on their vessels and unable to get ashore due to the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping morale up and pulling together for support has never been more important.

It can be difficult to organise group activities when everyone on board is busy and working shifts. Electing a social chair or hub creates a point of contact for the whole crew to collect suggestions and organise communal events.

Every crew is different and some activities may work better than others on your vessel. Here are some suggestions:

Try: Competitions like group sports or timed exercise events

Try: Quiz nights, study/hobby groups to learn a new skill or language, or multi-player computer games

Try: Social events like karaoke and board games

Try: Cultural celebrations or religious feasts to introduce crewmates to food, music and entertainment from your home country

Try: Movie screenings on board

Not everyone will want to join in, but don’t be discouraged if only a small number want to be involved at first. Investing in building these connections will have a positive impact on your wellbeing and theirs, and word will spread on board if your events are a success!

If you are concerned about anything on board, you can contact SeafarerHelp – our free, confidential, multilingual helpline available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Visit www.seafarerhelp.org for all the contact details you need, including Live Chat.