The Recommendations on Preservation of Mental Health of Sailors in Merchant Shipping Under Implementation of Strategy of Gender Equality

The study established that nowadays in the crew are included not only men but also women, creating certain degree of psychological discomfort on shipboard. Significant part of men do not consider profession of sailor suitable for fair sex representatives. Therefore, they are not quite ready to accept current situation. This fact is confirmed by results of survey of experienced sailors and cadets of higher maritime educational institution. Considering the above mentioned and current pronounced trend of lobbying for gender equality strategy in merchant shipping, the problem of preserving psychological health of sailors is urgent and quite burning. The review of the scientific publications on this issue and results of original studies permitted to develop recommendations postulating that in order to preserve psychological health of crew in case of inclusion of female sailors it is necessary to change approach to formation of ships crew. It is proposed to focus on psychological testing of male sailors in order to determine possible manifestation of negative attitude towards presence of woman on shipboard in order to take measures concerning development of favorable psychological climate in crew.