Original Publication
Yang, F.-C., Chiu, R.-H., & Lin, Y.-H. (2025). Shore Leave Policy—Paving the Path to a Sustainable Career Environment for Seafarers.
Sustainability, 17(10), 4300.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104300
Why This Research Matters
Shore leave has long been recognised as an important part of life at sea. However, modern shipping has significantly reduced the opportunities for seafarers to leave their vessels. Shorter port stays, tighter security procedures, heavy workloads and transport difficulties mean that many crews are unable to benefit from welfare services available ashore.
This research demonstrates that shore leave should not be viewed simply as a recreational activity. Instead, it is closely connected with career sustainability, mental wellbeing, organisational support and long-term retention of qualified seafarers.
What the Research Found
The authors used the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate factors influencing a sustainable career environment for seafarers.
The study concluded that organisational support is the most influential factor affecting long-term career sustainability. Within this category, well-designed shore leave policies, flexibility in granting shore leave and clear company support were identified as particularly important.
The research also showed that opportunities for recovery ashore contribute to work-life balance, psychological wellbeing and overall job satisfaction. Seafarers who feel supported by their employers are more likely to remain in the profession and maintain higher levels of motivation.
The Practical Problem
Even when shore leave is legally permitted, many seafarers are unable to use it effectively.
Common barriers include:
- Very short port stays.
- Lack of transport from terminals.
- Uncertainty about immigration procedures.
- Limited information about welfare centres.
- Difficulty finding reliable local contacts.
- Insufficient time to organise a visit ashore.
As a result, welfare services may exist but remain inaccessible to the people who need them most.
IMWIRSA Scientific Commentary
IMWIRSA believes this study highlights an important shift in how shore leave should be understood.
Shore leave is not simply a leisure activity or an optional employee benefit. It is part of the wider welfare system that supports human performance, psychological recovery and long-term sustainability of the maritime workforce.
While shipping companies and regulators remain responsible for creating appropriate working conditions, welfare organisations also play an important role by ensuring that valuable shore time can be used effectively.
Modern port welfare should therefore focus not only on providing services, but also on making those services easy to find, easy to reach and easy to use.
Practical Welfare Response
- Improve access to reliable information about welfare centres before vessel arrival.
- Provide clear guidance on transport options from terminals and port gates.
- Coordinate communication between welfare centres, agents and local volunteers.
- Develop short-duration welfare services suitable for crews with limited time ashore.
- Ensure multilingual information is available whenever possible.
- Maintain regularly updated opening hours and contact information.
- Encourage cooperation between ports, welfare organisations and local transport providers.
How MWApp Can Help
MWApp is designed to improve access to existing welfare services rather than replace them.
The platform can support shore leave by providing:
- Port Cards containing verified local welfare information.
- Centre Cards describing available services and opening hours.
- Transport guidance between terminals and welfare centres.
- Multilingual assistance for international crews.
- Direct contact with local welfare representatives.
- Offline access to essential information when internet connectivity is limited.
Its purpose is to help seafarers make better use of the limited time available ashore.
Recommendations
For seafarers' centres:
- Keep local information accurate and regularly updated.
- Develop services specifically designed for short visits.
- Strengthen cooperation with port agents and terminal operators.
For ports and agents:
- Provide practical information about shore leave procedures before arrival.
- Improve transport accessibility between terminals and welfare facilities.
- Include welfare contacts within arrival documentation whenever possible.
For shipping companies:
- Recognise shore leave as part of a healthy working environment.
- Encourage crews to use available welfare services whenever operationally possible.
- Support practical initiatives that improve access to welfare during port calls.
IMWIRSA Perspective
The future of seafarers' welfare depends not only on creating new services but also on making existing support genuinely accessible.
A welfare centre cannot provide assistance if a seafarer cannot find it, reach it or even know that it exists.
Digital technologies should therefore be viewed as practical tools that connect seafarers with real people, real welfare centres and real support at the moment it is needed. By reducing information barriers and improving access during short port stays, digital solutions can strengthen the effectiveness of the global welfare network without replacing the essential human role of welfare organisations.
Editorial note: This commentary summarises and interprets the cited research. It does not alter the authorship or conclusions of the original publication.
Yang, F.-C., Chiu, R.-H., & Lin, Y.-H. (2025). Shore Leave Policy—Paving the Path to a Sustainable Career Environment for Seafarers. Sustainability, 17(10), 4300. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104300
Why This Research Matters
Shore leave has long been recognised as an important part of life at sea. However, modern shipping has significantly reduced the opportunities for seafarers to leave their vessels. Shorter port stays, tighter security procedures, heavy workloads and transport difficulties mean that many crews are unable to benefit from welfare services available ashore.
This research demonstrates that shore leave should not be viewed simply as a recreational activity. Instead, it is closely connected with career sustainability, mental wellbeing, organisational support and long-term retention of qualified seafarers.
What the Research Found
The authors used the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate factors influencing a sustainable career environment for seafarers.
The study concluded that organisational support is the most influential factor affecting long-term career sustainability. Within this category, well-designed shore leave policies, flexibility in granting shore leave and clear company support were identified as particularly important.
The research also showed that opportunities for recovery ashore contribute to work-life balance, psychological wellbeing and overall job satisfaction. Seafarers who feel supported by their employers are more likely to remain in the profession and maintain higher levels of motivation.
The Practical Problem
Even when shore leave is legally permitted, many seafarers are unable to use it effectively.
Common barriers include:
As a result, welfare services may exist but remain inaccessible to the people who need them most.
IMWIRSA Scientific Commentary
IMWIRSA believes this study highlights an important shift in how shore leave should be understood.
Shore leave is not simply a leisure activity or an optional employee benefit. It is part of the wider welfare system that supports human performance, psychological recovery and long-term sustainability of the maritime workforce.
While shipping companies and regulators remain responsible for creating appropriate working conditions, welfare organisations also play an important role by ensuring that valuable shore time can be used effectively.
Modern port welfare should therefore focus not only on providing services, but also on making those services easy to find, easy to reach and easy to use.
Practical Welfare Response
How MWApp Can Help
MWApp is designed to improve access to existing welfare services rather than replace them.
The platform can support shore leave by providing:
Its purpose is to help seafarers make better use of the limited time available ashore.
Recommendations
For seafarers' centres:
For ports and agents:
For shipping companies:
IMWIRSA Perspective
The future of seafarers' welfare depends not only on creating new services but also on making existing support genuinely accessible.
A welfare centre cannot provide assistance if a seafarer cannot find it, reach it or even know that it exists.
Digital technologies should therefore be viewed as practical tools that connect seafarers with real people, real welfare centres and real support at the moment it is needed. By reducing information barriers and improving access during short port stays, digital solutions can strengthen the effectiveness of the global welfare network without replacing the essential human role of welfare organisations.