IUMI’s Inland Hull, Fishing Vessel and Yachts Committee took time out to interview Annet Koster, Managing Director of the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners prior to the IUMI conference in Rotterdam.
You were named Rotterdam’s “Port Man/Woman of the Year” in 2020 for your efforts to support seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain why seafarer wellbeing has become such an important focus throughout your career?
My name is Annet Koster, and since 2018 I have been Managing Director of the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR). In that role, I represent Dutch shipowners in the Netherlands and internationally, with a clear focus on ensuring that shipping can continue to operate safely, responsibly and competitively.
Seafarer wellbeing is central to that work, because shipping ultimately depends on people. During the COVID-19 pandemic this became more visible than ever: seafarers kept global trade moving, while many of them faced uncertainty about relief, travel and contact with home. For me, that underlined something I have always believed: a strong maritime sector starts with the people on board. Without seafarers, there is no shipping.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, you played a leading role in helping Rotterdam remain one of Europe’s most important crew-change hubs. Looking back, what are the key lessons the maritime industry should have learned about caring for the people who keep global trade moving?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the uninterrupted operation of global shipping came under serious pressure. Travel restrictions, closed borders and quarantine measures made crew changes increasingly difficult, leaving thousands of seafarers unable to return home or join their vessels.
Together with important Dutch stakeholders, the KVNR played an active role in developing and implementing practical solutions to keep crew changes possible. With the establishment of air bridges between Schiphol and Manila, we helped ensure that crew changes could continue to a certain extent during the pandemic.
That unique cooperation between KLM, Schiphol, the Port of Rotterdam and the KVNR was also the reason why I was honoured with the title ‘Port Man/Woman of the Year’. That recognition helped amplify the attention and gave us an additional platform to keep the needs of seafarers on the agenda. Together with the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), we were ultimately able to set up a vaccination programme for seafarers, regardless of nationality. This is a strong example of what the industry can achieve when it works together towards a shared objective.
For me, one of the most important lessons from that period is also one of the simplest: ships do not move trade, people do. The pandemic demonstrated the strength of international cooperation, but it also made clear that seafarer welfare must be part of decision-making from the start.
More recently, geopolitical tensions (including the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz) have once again highlighted how quickly seafarers can become caught up in events beyond their control. How can the industry better safeguard the wellbeing of crews during future geopolitical or other crises?
The shipping industry is increasingly affected by geopolitical tensions, and seafarers are more and more often directly exposed to the consequences. That is why the principle of Mare Liberum, the international right to free and safe passage, must remain firmly on the international maritime agenda.
Protecting crew welfare in this context requires close cooperation between governments, shipowners, maritime organisations and other relevant stakeholders. In moments of crisis, seafarers need clarity, coordination and support. That means having clear crisis protocols, timely information-sharing and coordinated international action in place, so that seafarers can receive both the practical and psychological support they need when geopolitical or other crises affect their work at sea.
Human error remains one of the leading causes of marine incidents, and research increasingly points to fatigue, stress and poor mental wellbeing as contributing factors. Should investment in seafarer wellbeing be viewed as an investment in risk prevention? What role can marine insurers play in supporting this objective?
For shipowners, investing in crew welfare means investing in the people who keep global trade moving. Reliable connectivity, sufficient rest, supportive leadership and access to professional help all contribute to safer operations on board. Healthier, well-rested and properly supported crews are better able to work safely, make sound decisions and respond effectively when circumstances become difficult.
Marine insurers also have an interest in this. Their role is not to take over the responsibility of employers, but they can support progress in a constructive way, for example by sharing knowledge, supporting welfare initiatives and training, and contributing to a broader culture of safety and prevention across the maritime sector.
Dutch-flagged vessels have long had a strong reputation when it comes to seafarer welfare, and that is something we should continue to build on. Dutch shipowners invest in safety, training, connectivity and crew support. But being a frontrunner also means continuing to improve.
Looking ahead, what changes would you most like to see in the maritime industry’s approach to crew welfare and mental wellbeing over the next decade?
Looking ahead, one of the areas that deserves even greater attention is the prevention of bullying and harassment at sea. The issue is gaining momentum internationally, including through the IMO and ILO and as part of the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code.
An important step has already been taken since this year, bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, have been included in the PSSR module of Basic Training. That means every seafarer receives relevant training on this topic from the start of their career. The same direction is reflected in the broader STCW review, where psychological safety, bullying and harassment, including sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH), gender diversity and gender sensitisation, and mental health have been identified as specific areas for further attention.
At the same time, we should also look at how technological innovation can contribute to safety and wellbeing on board. Developments such as e-lookout systems may, over time, help reduce workload, improve situational awareness and support safer watchkeeping. If we want to keep raising the standard for crew welfare, we also need to take meaningful steps in this area: using innovation not as a replacement for people, but as a way to better support them.
The momentum should now continue. Every seafarer should be able to work in an environment where they feel safe, valued and respected. For the coming decade, that is the standard the industry should continue to work towards.
This year’s IUMI conference takes place in Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port and home to the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR). What makes Rotterdam such a unique maritime city, and what would you encourage delegates to experience while they are here?
Rotterdam is much more than Europe’s largest port. It is a maritime city with its sleeves rolled up: practical, international, innovative and always in motion. What makes Rotterdam unique is that the entire maritime chain comes together here. Within a relatively small area, you find shipping companies, port authorities, terminals, shipbuilders, marine insurers, service providers, knowledge institutes and technology developers.
So do not only look at Rotterdam as a conference location but experience it as a living maritime ecosystem. Take time to see the Maas, visit the port, walk through the city, and enjoy the energy of a place that combines hard work with creativity and openness. And of course, make sure to enjoy the hospitality, culture and food. Rotterdam is a city that is best understood by experiencing it.
