ISWAN’s YachtCrewHelp 2025 Annual Review reports increases in calls about mental health, workplace bullying, and employment, highlighting the ongoing welfare challenges across the yachting industry.
The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) reported a 75.8% year-over-year increase in new contacts to its YachtCrewHelp helpline in 2025, according to its newly published annual review. The findings highlight challenges facing yacht crew, including mental health concerns, workplace misconduct, contractual disputes, and job insecurity.
Drawing on data from 473 helpline cases, the YachtCrewHelp 2025 Annual Review examines the issues crew and their families raised with the free, confidential, multilingual service, which provides emotional, well-being, and practical support 24 hours a day, year-round.
ISWAN suggests the increase in new contacts may reflect greater awareness of and trust in the service, along with growing recognition of crew welfare concerns across the industry.
Contacts related to mental health and well-being rose 55.2% in 2025. Crew sought support for issues including workplace stress, anxiety, low mood, and interpersonal conflict, often alongside challenges involving employment conditions, onboard culture, physical health, and family circumstances.
In response to the range of needs identified through the helpline, ISWAN introduced a Specialized Support Team to provide ongoing assistance to crew who may benefit from a longer-term relationship of care.
Reports of abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination, and violence (ABHDV) also increased, with contacts up 29.4% year over year. Bullying was the most frequently reported concern in this category, cited by 61.4% of crew who contacted YachtCrewHelp about ABHDV.
The review identifies onboard hierarchies, long working hours, high expectations, and blurred professional boundaries as factors that can make it difficult for crew to speak up about harmful behavior. It also highlights the challenges women may face in yachting.
Employment-related concerns were another significant theme. Contacts about finding work in the yachting industry rose almost 140% year over year, with crew reporting difficulty identifying legitimate opportunities, vetting recruiters, negotiating contracts, and avoiding scams or misleading job offers.
The review also highlights concerns about employment terms, unpaid wages, unfair dismissal, and job insecurity. Compared with workers in merchant shipping, yacht crew who contacted the helpline were more likely to seek assistance with employment conditions, contractual issues, recruitment, and finding work.
The review draws on confidential helpline conversations to provide insight into the welfare issues affecting yacht crew and to identify areas where further industry action is needed.
In 2025, ISWAN continued working with industry partners through initiatives such as Changing Tack while advancing efforts related to mental health, social connection, psychological safety, and safer working environments.
The findings reinforce the importance of addressing welfare concerns alongside the employment conditions and onboard cultures that shape crew members’ work lives.
