Many vessels now commonly have many nationalities aboard. This puts an extra strain on communication and understanding of differences.
Apart from the different nationalities, multiculturalism is also evident in the different cultures of the various groups aboard.
This means that the various groups may have different ways of seeing and doing things and different ideas about the things aboard that are most important.
This might for example involve bridge versus engine room, or the young versus the older crew aboard.
Read more about multicultural crews in the book A Good Working Life at Sea
In the section on Multicultural crews in A Good Working Life at Sea various seamen report on the challenges arising from having many different cultures aboard. You can also get seamen's views on how to have good relations aboard.
>> Go to the section on Multicultural crews
The watchword for good well-being aboard here is to get to know each other well. In the Toolkit, you can read more on how to cross cultural barriers and what can be done to learn more about each other.
>> Go the toolkit on Multicultural crews