The Swedish Club publishes crew guide on managing stress

Lorraine Hager, Senior Loss Prevention Executive

The Swedish Club has launched a new crew guide, ‘Managing stress in high-risk areas’, available here: (Crew Guide), to support seafarers working under prolonged uncertainty and pressure. The guide has been developed as part of the Club’s ‘Check Your Pulse’ wellbeing initiative and offers practical advice to help crews recognise and manage the effects of sustained stress while continuing to work safely on board. 



Created in response to the pressures crews can face when operating in high-risk areas, the guide looks at how extended periods of heightened alertness can affect sleep, concentration, mood, decision-making and energy levels. It also provides straightforward steps seafarers can take on board, from staying connected with colleagues and limiting repeated exposure to distressing news, to using simple breathing and movement techniques to reduce tension. 



The Swedish Club developed the guide with input from clinical psychologists to help ensure the advice reflects both professional understanding and the realities of life at sea. The aim is to give seafarers support that is practical, relevant and easy to use in demanding situations.



Lorraine Hager (pictured), Senior Loss Prevention Executive, Loss Prevention, The Swedish Club, said: “When crews are operating in high-risk areas, the pressure can build over time, even when everything appears calm on the surface. This guide was created to give seafarers practical support they can use in their day-to-day routine on board, and the input from clinical psychologists has helped ensure it reflects how prolonged stress can affect people in real terms. We hope it helps crews recognise those signs early and gives them some simple ways to manage the strain.”



The guide forms part of ‘Check Your Pulse’, The Swedish Club’s seafarer wellbeing initiative, which is designed to strengthen awareness, offer practical support and promote healthier working conditions across the maritime community.