Can we measure the mental wellbeing of seafarers – using speech analytics?

In June 2021 Safetytech Accelerator announced a collaboration between HiLo Maritime Risk Management and other leaders in shipping and maritime risk, to explore technology for the assessment of seafarer mental wellbeing data.

This collaboration is progressing, and we can add that TORM, the Danish specialist carrier of energy and clean petroleum products, will assist in the exploration of solutions from the German tech company audEERING – specifically their technology to measure mental wellbeing of seafarers using speech analytics.

The maritime industry is increasingly aware that good mental wellbeing among seafarers is not just a moral obligation, but economically beneficial too. A seafarer mental wellbeing crisis on board can lead to significant financial costs in terms of replacement crew, medical expenses, and time delays.

Moreover, shipping companies know that if you have a crew that is under too much stress it can lead to reduced performance and in a worst-case scenario, put a ship at risk and put other seafarers in danger. Investment in seafarer mental wellbeing and support can mean fewer accidents, repatriations and therefore, reduction in costly claims. There has been strong evidence acknowledging that a happier workforce is more motivated and productive.

Maurizio Pilu, Managing Director at Safetytech Accelerator had this to say about the announcement, “In our extensive discussions with the maritime industry and maritime charities, we have found that having the ability to establish the wellbeing of crew reliably and frequently is often cited as a key to enabling timely interventions for improving wellbeing. We think that audio analytics such as that of audEERING AI Soundlab could play a big role.” 

Dr. Florian Eyben, CTO of audEERING, is commented: “The collaboration with Safetytech Accelerator is a wonderful opportunity to show the potential of our AI-based voice analysis and vocal biomarker technology to gain insights into crew’s mental wellbeing, improve safety and eventually save lives.” 

Watch this space as we publish outcomes of this collaboration in the coming months.

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About audEERING 

audEERING is a German company specialising in Audio AI applications. They are a research-driven enterprise, focused on innovative B2B software products for voice and audio analysis. audEERING offers to an international client portfolio world-leading and award-winning technology for speech-based emotion recognition, speaker state and trait analysis, and extraction of vocal biomarkers from audio recordings.

About HiLo Maritime Risk Management 

HiLo Maritime Risk Management uses predictive analytics to improve the safety of mariners, identifying risk areas missed by other systems, by tapping into the power of data and providing easy to understand risk analysis to help prevent maritime incidents. HiLo’s overarching purpose is to save lives in the maritime industry. The HiLo fleet is made up of over 4000 vessels from more than 50 companies.

Torm

TORM based in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a shipping company that owns and operates product tankers. The Company’s product tankers carry refined oil products such as gasoline, jet fuel, naphtha and diesel oil.

TORM’s wholly owned fleet of more than 80 vessels is specifically configured to move energy and clean petroleum products from refineries to end users. Their dedicated range of product tankers and operational expertise provide customers with market-leading responsiveness and efficiency.

About Safetytech Accelerator

Safetytech Accelerator is a non-profit established by Lloyd’s Register. It is the first fully dedicated technology accelerator focused on safety and risk in industrial sectors. Our mission is to make the world safer and more sustainable through wider adoption of safetytech.