Vol. 47 No. 47 (2025): Global Burden of Pandemics & Its Challenges to Seafarers on Merchant Ships

The outbreak of pandemics poses significant challenges to seafarers serving on merchant ships. In recent years emerging viruses like Ebola, Nipah, and COVID-19 have continued to pose risks to the maritime community particularly seafarers sailing on worldwide vessels. This paper provides a historical overview of pandemics and their impact on seafarers, highlighting the evolution of disease prevention measures on ships. It then focuses on the recent COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions. The paper reports on the research findings which concern social, emotional, physical and work-related aspects of seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research paper also contributes to highlighting the often-overlooked historical impact of pandemics on seafarers for centuries.