Empowering seafarers: Reflections from the 3rd CSN Mediterranean Crewing Conference
The 3rd CSN Mediterranean Crewing Conference took place in Athens in late June, drawing a full house of international crewing professionals, HR leaders, shipowners, and technology providers. The conference—held in celebration of the Day of the Seafarer—focused on the theme ‘Empowering Seafarers: Innovations in Welfare, Training, and Digital Transformation’. Hosted at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, it was a day marked by practical insights, bold ideas, and a shared commitment to advancing the wellbeing and capability of seafarers.
The event opened with remarks from Adonis Violaris, Managing Director of Cyprus Shipping News, who welcomed attendees and set the scene for the day’s ambitious agenda. He underscored the publication’s commitment to creating meaningful, high-level platforms for dialogue on crewing challenges and innovation—noting that the conference had reached full capacity and maintained audience engagement until the very last session.
Henrik Jensen, CEO of Danica Crewing Specialists and chairman of the conference, introduced the key themes—welfare, competency development, and the evolving role of technology. He reminded participants that while tools and trends change, the human element remains central to maritime excellence. The opening session was further dignified by a welcome address from Ambassador Stavros Avgoustides of the Republic of Cyprus in Athens, who spoke about the enduring importance of the seafaring profession and Cyprus’s historical commitment to maritime development.
One of the early highlights was the presentation by Anna Pittalis, Commercial Director of Intergaz Ltd and President of WISTA Cyprus, who gave a passionate address on ‘Championing Diversity and Inclusion’. She stressed that diversity is not a checkbox but a strategic imperative, and outlined concrete steps companies can take—from inclusive recruitment to active mentorship—that can drive better performance and innovation on board.
Julien Ledoux from KVH Media Group followed with a presentation on ‘Crew Wellbeing and Emerging Global Connectivity Options’, showcasing how satellite networks and content services are not only enabling communication but also delivering structured wellness programming to seafarers at sea.
In a panel discussion moderated by Henrik Jensen, the conversation turned to how companies can reconcile safety and compliance training requirements with the need to foster a positive and motivated workplace culture. It was clear from the discussion that culture and compliance should not compete—they should reinforce each other.
In his closing summary, Henrik Jensen drew together the key messages of the day. He emphasised that if we are to empower seafarers, we must prioritise their wellbeing, prepare them with forward-looking training, and connect them through meaningful technologies. He also reiterated the importance of working across silos—HR, operations, training, and IT—to create integrated strategies that benefit both people and performance.