NORSTAR GROUP
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO PRIORITISE CREW WELLBEING Platinum supporters
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NORSTAR GROUP
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I PROFILE
Delivering safe, efficient and reliable ship management services whilst facilitating a positive social and environmental impact is integral to the Norstar philosophy. The ship management company maintains a collaborative approach with partners, while putting the welfare of its crew at the forefront of all operations. Managing Director Dr Lars Gruenitz explained to Imogen Ward and Hannah Barnett why wellbeing is so important.
AT
Norstar, the crew come
role in the company. When I’m on a busi-
first. Though the shipping
ness trip, the ships don’t stop: I just have
industry may be going
to make sure that my guys are supported.”
through a period of flux, responding to ever more stringent environmental
Backing mental health
standards as the company itself moves
On Seafarers’ Day in 2021, the company
towards a greener fleet, crew welfare
launched the Norstar WellAtSea pro-
remains constant as the number one
gramme for all vessels under its manage-
priority for Norstar.
ment to improve the overall wellbeing
“I see the ship management office
of crew members. This has now been
as a support office,” Dr Lars Gruenitz,
extended to personnel based ashore in
Managing Director, explained. “We don’t
Singapore, Yangon, Tokyo and Westport.
run the ships, it’s the guys on-board who
WellAtSea is an evidence-led start-up
run the ships. Our job is only to support.
that aims to improve the overall wellbeing
Compared to them, I hold a relatively minor
of the seafarer by introducing continuous
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NORSTAR GROUP
I PROFILE
and sustainable organisational change.
in group discussions and exercises through
It provides programmes specially
WellAtSea brought us closer as a crew,”
designed and created by health experts
Zayar Tin Htwe, 2nd Officer, MT Swan Pride,
like medical doctors, physiotherapists
agreed: “We found ourselves speaking more
and psychologists.
openly about our feelings, sharing concerns,
“Working with WellAtSea really accelerated during Covid,” Dr Gruenitz said. “They have
addressing problems and fostering a stronger sense of camaraderie among us.”
an app that gamifies wellness. So by doing certain activities, a player can earn trim coins which serve as currency used to make purchases at an online store within the app. And in doing so, it helps the player get off the sofa and get active.” The gamification element has appealed to members of the crew, too. “The WellAtSea programme has improved crew mental and physical wellbeing by fostering crossdepartmental relationships, enhancing
“MedSea's remote medical support has been a vital asset. We've had the confidence to seek medical assistance when needed, and they've responded swiftly. During the pandemic, one crew member suffered from high blood pressure and lost consciousness. Local regulations made it difficult to access medical care, but with MedSea's guidance, we successfully transported our crew member to a hospital in China, ultimately saving their life." Capt Aung Tun Kyaw, Master, MT Swan Pride
teamwork and reducing stress,” said Han Win Aung, 2nd Officer, MT Swan Dignity.
Promoting physical health
“The most effective motivation comes
Norstar has also been working with
from earning trim coins through participa-
International SOS, which runs a dedicated
tion in the challenges, as they can be used
hotline for marine medical assistance,
for rewards and in auctions.”
known as MedSea. It aims to solve more
WellAtSea also aims to promote a culture
than 80% of cases on-board. It means
of openness onboard to combat issues
a crew member does not have to suffer
which may arise at home and are therefore
undiagnosed for days before reaching port.
largely out of a crew member’s control.
It is also a confidential service: Norstar
As Dr Gruentiz explained: “Our seafarers
management can only view aggregated
might be somewhere on the other side of
data, to help improve protective equipment
the world and there’s only so much he or
and procedures. Private medical details are
she can do about a problem at home. It can
kept that way.
create a feeling of helplessness. We need
“MedSea’s remote medical support is the
a strong social network on board where
best service our company provides,” Phyoe
people can talk openly.”
Thant Sin, 3rd Engineer, MT Swan Dignity,
These preventive and combative measures have been widely embraced and the company now enjoys a high participation rate in group activities. “Engaging
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said, “and I feel lucky to have it. It helps me and my family. It is a crucial resource.” Alongside the hotline, Norstar offers fully comprehensive medical insurance for
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NORSTAR GROUP
I PROFILE
event in my life, and I’m forever grateful to Norstar for providing this assistance.” The company has also implemented the first Starlink onboard its Golden Curl vessel in May this year, to increase bandwidth and provide reliable high-speed internet, improving communication with international offices and family members. “Digitalising our ships has greatly improved crew wellbeing and safety,” personnel and their kin. The cover is intended to give
Captain Tin Maung Kyi, Master of Golden Curl, said. “It ensures reliable
peace-of-mind to seafarers if a
communication to stay in touch with
family member is unwell while they
loved ones through voice and video
are away, and it also helps to attract potential employees. Phyoe Thant Sin, 3rd
calls, as well as sharing updates and accessing entertainment.”
Engineer, MT Swan Dignity, is one staff member with particularly special memories
Health and safety focus
of the service. “My wife gave birth to our
In today’s world, health and safety are
daughter with the help of this medical
crucial facets for all organisations – nowhere
support,” he said. “It’s the most significant
more so than the shipping industry. It is
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therefore vital that Norstar upholds the
to learn,” Dr Gruenitz said. “Seafarers
highest standards, and the company is
have to go to school for their COC, but
vetted regularly.
then it’s hands-on. And we have crew
Along with managing and maintaining
development documented within the
mental and physical health, a safe and
system, so we know where people are
healthy work environment is, of course,
at. I can open my dashboard right now
essential for the wellbeing of Norstar
and write down how my crew are, based
crew, as well as for the efficient and
on all the latest appraisals.”
successful functioning of its operations.
Looking ahead, Norstar is preparing
Therefore, the company follows the
to manage ammonia-fuelled vessels by
highest health and safety protocols
2026, as Dr Gruenitz observed that this is
and implements them across all vessels
a likely development in the industry. The
and offices.
company is sure that although the fuel of
“The oil majors come to our office quite
the future may change, what will continue
regularly,” Dr Gruenitz explained, “and we
to keep the ships running will be the
have the highest approval level with them.
people manning them. Therefore, crew
We have a very comprehensive HSEQ
welfare remains a top priority at Norstar.
system, and we also invest quite a bit
“The three best things about my job are:
of time and money into having our data
people, people and people,” Dr Gruenitz
translated in real time. So we can actually
concluded. “I enjoy working with different
look at our dashboards and see trends
nationalities. Plus, with decarbonisation,
before they turn into anything bad.”
I think we actually can change the ship-
The company runs monthly safety
ping industry for the better. We’re going
training sessions from its facility in
to have to be at the forefront of this
Yangon, and onboard, crew members
change and see what can realistically be
pass on their accumulated knowledge.
done: which means to keep thinking out-
“We encourage our senior officers to
side the box, keep supporting our crew
mentor our juniors, because there’s a lot
and staff, and keep going.”
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