The routine of sailors is characterized by a challenging environment where they deal with isolation, responsibility, and the constant pressure to maintain safety and operational efficiency. Working on long-haul ships, they spend long periods away from home, which affects both their mental and physical health. The daily routine on board is structured in strict shifts, with tasks ranging from cargo handling to ship maintenance, requiring not only technical skills but also a high degree of adaptation and resilience.
The intense routine and confinement contribute to the formation of habits such as excessive substance use, like tobacco, in search of relief from stress and loneliness. Moreover, prolonged interaction with colleagues from different cultures and the lack of social interaction with the outside world can generate conflicts but also strengthen camaraderie among the crew.
Despite the difficulties, many sailors see the profession as a way of livelihood and adventure, with the sea offering both challenges and a sense of freedom. However, the lack of proper support for mental and physical health can result in serious problems, such as addictions and illnesses, highlighting the need for greater attention from companies in the sector to improve the living and working conditions of these professionals. Thus, the routine of sailors, though full of challenges, reflects a complex combination of hard work, loneliness, and psychological resilience, requiring both respect and more effective care policies.
1. Smoking (Tobacco Use)
Smoking among sailors is a common addiction, often resulting from the specific conditions that characterize life aboard ships. The intense routine, strenuous work, and, above all, prolonged isolation, contribute to many sailors turning to cigarettes as an escape from stress and monotony. In this context, smoking often takes on an almost therapeutic role, providing a moment of mental and physical pause, in addition to serving as a form of socialization among crew members.
Life aboard, isolated from daily interaction with family and friends, can lead to feelings of loneliness and anxiety. With few options for leisure or recreational activities, many sailors turn to smoking, which offers temporary relief from these emotional tensions. Additionally, heavy work shifts and often adverse conditions at sea, such as rough seas and an overload of tasks, further intensify the desire to seek relief in substances like tobacco.
Another factor contributing to the increase in smoking on board is the lack of resources and effective alternatives to combat stress and anxiety. Although there are campaigns and awareness programs about the harms of smoking, the smoking culture still persists strongly among sailors. Ships, in many cases, are equipped with designated smoking areas, which can even encourage consumption, as smoking becomes a ritual socialized within the crew.
Smoking on board not only affects the individual health of sailors but can also have consequences for the overall performance of the crew and safety on board. Smoking in inappropriate areas can pose fire risks, and constant exposure to tobacco can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular problems. In the long term, the effects of smoking can impair physical endurance and the sailors’ ability to react in critical situations.
Therefore, while smoking among sailors is a common habit, it reflects the lack of mental health and well-being strategies aboard. More effective approaches to managing stress, such as psychological support programs, leisure alternatives, and regular physical activities, would be essential to reduce dependence on cigarettes and improve sailors’ quality of life at sea.
2. Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Excessive alcohol consumption among sailors is a significant issue, often related to the isolated lifestyle and the emotional and psychological challenges imposed by the profession. Working aboard a long-haul ship can be an extremely lonely experience, and in many cases, sailors turn to alcohol as a way to cope with stress, homesickness, and boredom. Drinking alcohol is often a way to “escape” temporarily from the tensions of the work environment and the harsh routine, but this habit can quickly become an addiction, bringing serious consequences for the physical and mental health of sailors.
Life at sea, with long periods away from family and friends, creates a scenario where social isolation and loneliness are common. Often, sailors feel disconnected from their personal lives, and communication with the outside world can be limited, making alcohol a tool to fill this emotional void. Alcohol also serves as a way to relieve work-related stress, whether due to the physical demands required by onboard tasks or facing adverse situations, such as storms or technical failures that require quick and decisive actions.
Furthermore, free time aboard is often scarce, and when available, it can be boring, as leisure options are limited. For many sailors, spending time with the crew and drinking alcohol during off-hours becomes a form of socialization and an escape from the daily difficulties. Nights aboard may involve prolonged drinking sessions, which, although temporarily relieving tension, result in a continuous cycle of excess.
Excessive alcohol consumption is also associated with other risky behaviors, such as neglecting safety protocols, which can be dangerous in a highly technical and risky environment like a ship. Alcohol intoxication impairs motor coordination and judgment, making the sailor more susceptible to accidents. This poses a danger not only to the individual who consumes alcohol but also to the entire crew and the ship’s operation.
In the long term, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a range of health problems, including liver, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Additionally, alcohol abuse can severely affect the mental health of sailors, contributing to the development of disorders such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. These issues, if not properly addressed, can further aggravate the cycle of stress and addiction.
Although many maritime companies offer support programs and awareness campaigns about the harmful effects of alcohol, the culture of alcohol consumption remains deeply rooted in many parts of life aboard. To address this problem, it would be necessary to implement stricter psychological support policies, healthy leisure alternatives, and better working conditions, as well as promote a cultural shift that values the mental and physical health of sailors.
Therefore, excessive alcohol consumption among sailors is not just an individual behavioral issue but also a reflection of a series of environmental and emotional factors related to the profession. Effectively addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach, involving the promotion of mental health, the creation of healthier onboard environments, and encouraging the adoption of more balanced and safer behaviors.
3. Sedentarism and Irregular Eating Habits
Sedentarism and Irregular Eating Habits are common problems among sailors, primarily due to the specific working conditions and lifestyle aboard long-haul ships. Life at sea is physically demanding at certain moments, but it also imposes considerable challenges to maintaining a balanced health routine. The lack of time and options to exercise, along with irregular working hours, leads to sedentary behavior, while often disordered and unbalanced eating habits exacerbate the negative health impacts on sailors.
Sedentarism
Sedentarism among sailors is a direct result of the limitations imposed by life aboard. Although there are work periods that require physical effort, such as moving cargo and controlling technical operations on the ship, these moments are often followed by long periods of inactivity or rest. When the ship is not in active operation, the crew may spend several hours without engaging in physical activities, contributing to a sedentary lifestyle.
Furthermore, options for exercising aboard many ships are limited. While some more modern vessels may have gyms or spaces designated for physical activity, these facilities are not available on all ships. In many cases, space is cramped, and the lack of proper equipment or the intense work routine makes it difficult for sailors to incorporate physical exercise into their daily routines. This results in less physical wear and tear and, over time, can affect muscle endurance, cardiovascular health, and the mobility of sailors.
Sedentarism aboard, combined with stress and the workload, also contributes to posture problems and muscle pain, especially in the back and joints. The lack of regular physical movement can increase the risk of chronic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, as well as contribute to mental and emotional fatigue.
Irregular Eating Habits
Sailors’ eating habits also suffer from the peculiar working conditions at sea. Irregular working hours and the scarcity of fresh food make it difficult to maintain a balanced diet. Fresh food supply is limited since vessels are at sea for long periods, and the food options aboard tend to be more processed and less nutritious. In many cases, meals consist of industrialized, canned, and preserved foods, which offer less nutritional value and more empty calories.
Moreover, sailors often have irregular meal schedules, with long intervals between meals or the need to eat at unexpected times depending on work shifts. This can result in disordered eating, with excessive consumption of low-nutrient foods and few vegetables, fruits, or fiber sources, which are essential for overall health.
Stress can also influence sailors’ eating habits, leading to unhealthy behaviors. Many turn to food as a form of emotional comfort, especially in moments of tension or loneliness. The consumption of foods rich in sugar, fat, and salt may increase due to the search for emotional relief, which contributes to weight gain and the development of health issues such as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
Health Consequences
The combination of sedentarism and irregular eating habits has a profound impact on sailors’ health. The lack of physical activity and the consumption of unhealthy foods can lead to excessive weight gain, increasing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Additionally, the unbalanced diet can affect immune function, making sailors more susceptible to infectious diseases and other health problems. Sedentarism also contributes to muscle weakness and reduces physical endurance, which is harmful in a work environment that requires physical effort and energy.
In the long term, these habits can harm the quality of life of sailors, affecting both their mental and physical health. Social isolation and stress, combined with a lack of physical activity and inadequate nutrition, can contribute to the development of disorders such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
Solutions and Prevention
Improving nutrition and promoting physical activity habits aboard requires a joint effort between maritime companies and sailors. Awareness programs about the importance of health and well-being can help address these issues. Introducing healthier and more balanced food options on the menus aboard, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, would be a positive measure. Additionally, encouraging physical exercise by creating appropriate spaces and more flexible schedules for physical activities can significantly improve sailors’ health.
Therefore, sedentarism and irregular eating habits are complex issues but can be addressed through structural changes in sailors’ routines, aiming to promote a healthier and more balanced lifestyle, both physically and mentally. These changes would not only improve sailors’ quality of life but also have a positive impact on the operational efficiency of the ships, contributing to the safety and well-being of the entire crew.
