Caring For Our Crew
Scorpio takes the health and welfare of our seafarers very seriously, and we have many industry-leading initiatives to improve our crew’s wellbeing both onboard and at home, and we are always striving to improve our offering.
As part of our extended family, our seafarer’s health and wellbeing is among our highest priorities. Scorpio offers several initiatives and benefits to protect, care for, and ensure support of the seafarer’s family during their employment and while on leave. With our seafarers being our primary asset, we are immensely proud of their qualities and abilities, and for that, we continuously strive towards betterment of the benefits we can offer to them.
Taking a holistic approach to the seafarer’s career, we offer support from the very beginning of a seafarer’s career with outreach and training programs, to the health and safety programs while onboard, including training our galley staff in nutrition, culinary skills and menu planning. We offer health care coverage for our seafarers and their family whether they are onboard or ashore and even during transit, we make sure our crew has Business Lounge access at airports when their layover is over three hours.
In 2024, we launched the new Māori Crew Savings Plan, a progressive contribution-matching program to support our crew in saving money for the future, whether for retirement, children’s education, or a special occasion. Scorpio has committed up to $4 million towards our seafarer’s savings accounts, matching their monthly contribution up to 3% of their salary.
Unfortunately, these programs are only offered by a few companies in the shipping industry. This February, the Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI), a quarterly survey conducted by the Mission to Seafarers, published the results of their 2023 fourth quarter survey, showing a steady decline in seafarer happiness over the course of the year, starting 2023 with a score of 7.12 and finishing the year with a score of 6.36.
The survey is taken by seafarers across the shipping, cruise and yacht industries, in all ranks, from deck crew to captains and covers ten key aspects of seafarers’ lives and work, including connectivity, shore leave, food, health, training, workload, and welfare. Many of the biggest complaints, or lowest scores, are things that Scorpio has already dedicated to solving and prides itself on providing for our seafarers. Here, we will look at the top complaints of the SHI and the initiatives that Scorpio already has in place to address those problems and support our crew.
Combating Isolation with Connectivity & Camaraderie
According to the SHI, yet again, poor internet access or even high fees to access the internet was one of the top complaints among seafarers. Scorpio understands that one of the biggest sacrifices of life at sea is leaving home and family for months at a time and we believe that charging high fees to stay in contact with family is just unacceptable.
This year, Scorpio made a significant investment in Starlink, providing all our seafarers free Wi-Fi while onboard. Tapping into Elon Musk’s extensive SpaceX satellite network, Starlink is designed to provide good internet coverage no matter where you are in the world. This should be a real game-changer for the ability of our crew to stay connected to their loved ones.
Staying connected to family isn’t only through digital devices. Our organization in Mumbai is building strong bonds with our ratings by conducting outreach programs in their hometowns. These sessions provide a valuable opportunity for seafarers to connect with each other and with our team. In Mumbai, seafarers attending training courses first meet with key office personnel in their town of residence as a part of our family outreach meet and greet sessions.
In the Philip-pines, we have an active ‘Wives’ Committee’ that not only provides social support, but also holds classes on running the household, including financial management, keeps them up to date on their husband’s status and organizes annual parties. These initiatives reflect our commitment to foster a close-knit and supportive maritime community.
While onboard, preventing isolation goes beyond connecting with family. Camaraderie and crew interaction is just as important, as is building lasting friendships with colleagues. There is a clear, positive impact from crews serving together regularly, which fosters team-work, reduces stress, and enhances overall happiness. Our global manning offices make a conscious effort to keep crews together across our fleet groups, as well as being sensitive to cultural ties, making sure no crew member is the only one of their nationalities onboard.
One of the best ways to share time together onboard is around a good meal. While there were many seafarers who complained of poor nutrition and bad food preparation in the SHI, Scorpio has been improving the crew’s diet for years.
Since 2022, our team at 88 Aces in Manila has hosted a series of cooking enhance-ment training programs for their Chief Cooks and Messmen. These 10-day training include nutrition, budgeting, hygeine and food safety, and practical training on cooking Greek, Russian, Indian, Turkish and Asian cuisines.
Onboard, Scorpio employs Oceanic Wellbeing Services to train the galley crew in hygeine practices, culinary skills, optimal nutrition, and menu planning. Clean, delicious food with dishes from our seafarers’ culture helps to make happy bellies and smiling faces onboard.
Another complaint that often pops up on the SHI is limits to drinking water. Scorpio crew are provided with non-toxic, stainless steel water bottles that can be refilled onboard by our advanced reverse osmosis water filtration systems. This innovative filtration system not only allowed Scorpio to end its dependence on plastic water bottles (along with new innovative, plant-based cartons for back-up), but also have a nearly unlimited supply of drinking water onboard.
By taking a holistic approach to crew support, everything from the daily meals to keeping our crew hydrated form part of our health & wellness objectives.
Physical Health and Well-being
Scorpio Group prioritizes crew health and safety. As part of our holistic view of care, our role in the health of our seafarers begins long before they board our vessels. We implemented an Enhanced Pre-Employment Medical Examination (PEME) Q&A program that not only meets but exceeds industry standards, prioritizing the well-being of our seafarers at every step of their journey. This includes life insurance coverage for the seafarer, and year-round health coverage, whether onboard or during leave for the seafarer and their immediate family. Seafarers’ families are also encouraged, through contact campaigns, to undergo annual health checkups.
If a health problem were to arise, our seafarers have a dedicated staff member who oversees their medical sign-offs and supports their recovery. They maintain regular contact, ensuring that the seafarer receives the necessary care and assistance until they are fit for sea service. This dedicated person advocates for the seafarer within the company and monitors their progress, ensuring a smooth transition back to work.
Mental Health Support
To help cope with the struggles of life at sea, or assist with a personal crisis, seafarers serving onboard benefit from mental well-being sessions led by a Trained Mental Health Practitioner. These sessions are completely confidential and non-judgmental and help equip seafarers with coping strategies and resilience-building techniques. Our commitment to mental health underscores our dedication to fostering a safe and welcoming environment and the holistic well-being of our crew.
In addition to mental health support, we’ve equipped our office staff with QPR Gatekeeping training to identify triggers and warning signs if another crew member is suffering. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer – a powerful framework that helps our staff identify warning signs of suicide and respond appropriately. This initiative is about more than just workplace training; it’s about empowering our staff to make a meaningful difference when it matters most — potentially saving lives in the process. We believe in the importance of building a culture of safety, which goes beyond preventing injuries, to an over-arching culture of valuing each person and their wellbeing, whether physical, nutritional, emotional, or otherwise.
Cultivating Respect Onboard
Many seafarers in the SHI complained of: “lack of respect, discriminatory practices, and abusive treatment from shipping companies”. Within Scorpio’s Code of Ethics, we have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying, discrimination, and abusive behaviors. On the next page, you can find our recently updated guidelines. We make sure to train all crew not only on our core values of integrity, collaboration, stewardship, and moxie, but also on a ‘Safety Culture’ that depends on an open and trusting relationship between all crew ranks.
Each culture handles hierarchy positions in different ways, which is why a solid company culture is so important. By creating the Safety Culture, we make sure that each person is respected, encouraged to speak up when there is a problem, and not punished for pointing out errors. We value crew feedback and address concerns promptly.
In 2019, we studied our company culture and found that we had an ‘Avoidant’ leader-ship culture. To fix this, we employed the ‘Safer Together’ program, a three-year, four-tiered leadership training system (see the inside cover for all the team values) to develop a foundation of trust between the crew, developing the self to be open, provide feedback, and promote teamwork. Through consistent training of crew at all levels and ranks, we have shifted to a leadership culture of trust and openness, encouraging crew to point out potential problems and safely come forward when something is not done correctly. This environment creates better safety for the vessel and everyone onboard.
Despite these measures, exceptions can always occur. For this, we have systems in place to support seafarers who feel they aren’t treated properly. Scorpio provides our seafarers a Dedicated Ombudsman who serves as a vital advocate for seafarers’ well-being. This Ombudsman, an ex-Master Mariner with over a decade of experience, understands the unique challenges faced by our crew at sea. He is impartial, reports confidentially, and works to resolve seafarers’ concerns and grievances, ensuring fair treatment and timely resolutions.
The Ombudsman communicates openly to the aggrieved, offers support, and advocates for necessary changes to enhance seafarers’ experiences and satisfaction within our organization.
Our dedicated crewing teams through Astor Shipmanagement, 88 Aces, Scorpio Marine Management, Optimum Ship Services, and Zenith Ship Management do their best to manage, serve and support our seafarers and we are constantly working and investing in the latest technologies for crewing services. Every week, there is a team meeting between all the crewing managers in all the offices around the world to make sure that all the crew initia-tives, safety issues, hiring procedures and administrative tasks are running smoothly. This is a time when individual managers can discuss any problems they are having and get all the teams’ support for a quick solution.
Seafarers’ voices are heard, and their well-being is a top priority. While other shipping companies are cutting corners at the cost of their crew, Scorpio is investing more in caring for ours.
Industry-Leading Initiatives
‘Scorpio Together’ is more than a slogan, it’s a policy
Life & Health Insurance
Working with Mayfair and the Integrity Cell of Robus Insurance, Scorpio provides seafarers and their families with tailored health & medical coverage, plus, life insurance for the seafarer.”
Mental Health Services
Psychologists are available 24/7 to give support and one-to-one conversations prior to and after joining the vessel. Easy access on-board all our vessels.
Crew Savings Plan
Voluntary savings program for all Scorpio crew, providing access to a beneficial investment plan for retirement, college funds, etc. Scorpio matches 3% of contributions!
88 Aces Welfare Team
We offer an on-call Ombudsman, Psychologist and Welfare Consultant to safeguard the health and welfare of not only our seafarers, but also their families.
Oceanic Wellbeing Services
Education for our galley staff on various health-related areas, offering onboard training in culinary skills, nutrition and menu planning based on the WHO’s guidelines.
Digital Money Cards
The optional ShipMoney digital cards are a a safe alternative to cash advance, usable anytime to withdraw money from ATMs, to send money to family, recharge mobile phones, etc.
Airport Business Lounge
Scorpio Seafarers have complementary airport lounge access during international
journeys that incur layovers exceeding three hours.
Free WiFi Onboard
All Scorpio Seafarers have complementary internet access with the new high-speed,
global Starlink Satellite Network while onboard.
Cultivating Respect:
Addressing Bullying and Harassment
Embarking on a maritime legacy spanning multiple generations, Scorpio’s ethos is deeply rooted in a culture that prioritizes nurturing a workplace environment grounded in mutual respect and ethical conduct. Here are 6 key points from our Code of Ethics:
Ethical Standards & Cultural Integration
Senior management’s unwavering commitment to ethical standards sets the tone for Scorpio’s organizational culture. This culture places great emphasis on dignity, diversity, and inclusivity, reflected in a work-force comprising individuals from over 30 nationalities across the globe.
Inclusivity and Gender Diversity
Recognizing the significance of gender diversity in enhancing safety culture, Scorpio actively seeks to increase the representation of female seafarers within its ranks. This initiative reflects the Company’s commitment to fostering a workplace where all individuals feel valued and respected.
Zero Tolerance Policy
Scorpio maintains a steadfast stance against bullying and harassment, underpinned by its Code of Ethics. Rather than
relying solely on formal policies, the Company instills a culture-based approach, emphasizing shared workplace beliefs, values, and behaviors.
Promotion & Awareness
Efforts to promote the Safer Together program encompass a range of initiatives, from onboard campaigns to online courses, ensuring widespread awareness and participation across the organization.
Reporting Mechanisms & Support
Employees, onshore and onboard, are provided with robust reporting mechanisms ensuring confidentiality and support. These mechanisms include access to hotlines, psychologists, buddy systems, Ombudsman and an Ethics Committee for impartial investigation, fostering an environment where concerns can be raised without fear of reprisal.
Safety Culture Transformation
The implementation of the “Safer Together” program, initiated following a comprehensive safety culture survey, underscores Scorpio’s commitment to continuous improvement. With the long-term objective of establishing a self-sustainable safety culture, the program focuses on integration and ongoing monitoring of progress.
