To All Relevant Stakeholders: 

Dalian Maritime University, in collaboration with multiple universities, classification societies, shipping companies, and industry organizations, is conducting a Global Survey on Seafarers’ Physical and Mental Health and Labour Rights Protection. This initiative seeks to systematically assess the current status of seafarers’ well-being worldwide, evaluate the effectiveness of existing labour protection measures, and identify prevailing industry practices and challenges in these critical areas.

We are reaching out to shipping companies, ship management firms, and crewing agencies across different nations and regions to participate in this important endeavour. The findings from this survey will inform the development of the Global Report on Seafarers’ Physical and Mental Health and Labour Rights Protection, which is scheduled for release at the World Maritime Merchants Forum 2026 in November 2026. This report is intended to serve as a valuable reference for international organizations, maritime authorities, shipping companies, and research institutions, with the ultimate goal of advancing the global agenda on seafarer health and labour rights.

We formally invite your esteemed organization to participate and would be most grateful for your assistance with the following two tasks.

1. Distribute the Seafarer Questionnaire

This component of the study aims to capture seafarers’ firsthand perceptions of their health, working and living conditions, and the protection of their labour rights. We respectfully request your organization’s assistance in forwarding the Seafarer Questionnaire (electronic format, link below) to seafarers currently managed, employed, or dispatched by your company.

To enhance the representativeness and statistical validity of our data, we kindly request that you distribute the questionnaire to a diverse group of seafarers, ensuring representation across various ship types, ranks, departments, and nationalities. We are aiming for 100 -120 completed responses from your organization, though any additional efforts to maximize participation would be immensely valuable to our research.

Link to the questionnaire: https://v.wjx.cn/vm/r5z2YXT.aspx#

2. Complete the Company Questionnaire

The Company Questionnaire is designed in electronic format (link provided below) to gather insights into your company’s policies, practices, and initiatives concerning seafarers’ physical and mental health and labour rights protection. Your perspectives are invaluable to our research.

Should you not be the designated point of contact for this matter, we would be most appreciative if you could kindly forward this invitation to the appropriate colleague within your organization.

Link to the questionnaire: https://v.wjx.cn/vm/mdeiHsJ.aspx#

Additional information:

1. Privacy and Data Protection

All information collected through this survey will be used solely for academic purposes, specifically for the preparation of the research report on seafarers’ physical and mental health and labour rights protection. The survey is completely anonymous and does not collect any personally identifiable information or company-specific identification details. The research team is committed to maintaining strict confidentiality regarding all information provided by participating companies and seafarers.

To facilitate the efficient distribution and collection of responses, both the company and seafarer questionnaires are administered electronically. Upon completion, data will be transmitted directly to the research team’s secure database, ensuring that no information leakage occurs.

2. Deadline for Response and Contact Information

We would appreciate receiving your completed questionnaires by 18 September 2026. Your organization’s support and cooperation in this matter are sincerely valued and essential to the success of this research.

Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our research team:

Dalian Maritime University

Aug. 2026