NAPA outlines growing pressures of life at sea and its digital Permit-to-Work system

“Behind every net-zero ambition stands a seafarer,” writes Mikko Kuosa, CEO of NAPA, on the eve of IMO’s Day of the Seafarer. “And right now, they’re being asked to do more than ever, often with less. 

“Seafarers are facing greater demands than ever before. As the industry navigates the transition to alternative fuels and adapts to increasingly complex compliance requirements, life at sea is evolving fast, and it’s seafarers who are on the frontlines of this change.

“That’s why, on this Day of the Seafarer, we stand with the IMO in affirming that crew safety, dignity, and well-being must be non-negotiable at every level- from bridge to engine room and beyond.

“Creating a positive workplace culture at sea isn’t just a moral imperative, it’s a business-critical one. 

“Recent studies by Cardiff University and ISWAN reveal a troubling rise in stress, fatigue and mental distress among crew:

- Over 40% of senior officers report significant mental health distress. 

- 54% of seafarers say workloads have increased. 

- A third now fear criminalisation due to complex reporting requirements.

“These are not just human resource concerns: they are operational red flags that affect safety, performance, and retention.

At NAPA, we’ve seen this up close. Despite decades of safety gains, 55% of shipboard accidents still occur during planned work, often in confined or hazardous areas like oil tanks and cargo holds. Why? Because today’s permit-to-work systems still rely too heavily on paper, memory, and good intentions, leaving too much to chance. 

“That’s why, in 2024, we reimagined the process from the ground up, launching a digital Permit to Work system built with—and for—seafarers. It brings live visibility to high-risk tasks, smart step-by-step guidance, and real-time coordination between ship and shore. When every minute and every decision counts, that kind of support can be the difference between a job well done and an incident.

“And it’s not just Permit to Work. From digital logbooks and automated checklists to smart compliance workflows, digital solutions are already reducing administrative burden and boosting safety onboard. In fact, our customer Anthony Veder reports saving 2,000 hours of admin time per vessel after going digital with NAPA Logbook—a 14% drop in paperwork, freeing up time for what matters most. 

“Because the truth is: as the industry transforms, safety and seafarer empowerment must be non-negotiable. No green transition will succeed if it puts the people who make shipping possible at risk—whether from fatigue, outdated tools, or unclear procedures.

“That said, digital tools alone won’t solve everything. But when they’re built with empathy and tested in real working conditions, they become powerful allies, helping crews do their jobs with confidence, clarity, and care.

“We must stop viewing seafarers as passive recipients of change; instead, they need to be more actively brought into conversations that affect their day-to-day lives and jobs, so that we can better empower them with human-centred support and solutions that meet their needs. It’s the smartest and easiest way we can build a stronger, safer maritime future."