The impact of the pandemic on the psychological of Vietnamese seafarers on prolonged ocean voyage and the role of the family factor

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on many different sectors globally, and the transportation industry is no exception. Among them, the maritime industry has had to face considerable challenges, particularly with the lives and work of sailors on ships. With travel restrictions and disease prevention measures, many sailors have been stranded in the middle of the ocean and unable to return to land. This has caused a lot of pressure on their mental health, well-being, and way of life. One of the factors that causes the most anxiety and mental distress for sailors is the worry about the safety of their families during the pandemic. To better understand this situation, an interview was conducted with 20 sailors working on commercial ships in August 2022. The results showed that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of sailors, especially their constant worry for the safety of their families, making their work at sea insecure and causing them to long to return home to help theirs.