Seafarers’ health and access to healthcare study
Seafarers’ health and access to healthcare are important to us.
The Seafarers International Research Centre has completed a study to assist ports, employers, and governments in improving healthcare for working seafarers in the cruise and cargo sectors.
The study aimed to find out about the health of working seafarers and their access to healthcare while onboard.
Survey outcomes
We are delighted to announce the publication of four reports following the completion of this research.
Health and wellbeing on cargo ships
The first report considers seafarers’ health in the cargo sector and compares the current findings with previous findings from 2011 and 2016.
Sampson, H., Acejo, I., Ellis, N., Turgo, N. (2025) The Health and Wellbeing of Seafarers working on cargo ships in 2023-2024. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
Health on cruise and cargo vessels
The second report compares seafarers’ health in the cruise and cargo sectors.
Sampson, H., Acejo, I., Ellis, N., Turgo,N. (2025) The health of seafarers working on cruise and cargo vessels 2023-2024. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
Access to healthcare in the cruise and cargo sectors
The third report considers seafarers’ access to healthcare in the cruise and cargo sectors.
Sampson, H., Acejo, I., Ellis, N., Turgo,N. (2025) Seafarers’ access to healthcare while working on cruise and cargo vessels. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
An overview of health and access to healthcare in the cruise and cargo sectors
The fourth report provides a summary and discussion of all the health study findings. It includes recommendations for positive change.
Sampson, H., Acejo, I., Ellis, N., Turgo, N. (2025) Seafarers’ health and access to healthcare in the cruise and cargo sectors in 2024: An overview. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
About the study
The research was organised by Professor Helen Sampson in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University. It was funded by The Swedish Mercantile Marine Foundation.
If you have any questions about the study findings, please contact Professor Helen Sampson at sampsonh@cardiff.ac.uk.
