No one can deny it is a good thing for seafarers to be healthy, happy and fit. But how far are shipowners, operators and managers willing to go to ensure their crews are more than just a number?

How much are they willing to pay for better working and social conditions onboard?

Or — more to the point — what is the potential cost of the risks of incidents and accidents if they do not invest in their seaborne staff and the conditions in which they work?

This is an era of conflicting currents in crew welfare.