Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.60.2.3
Contributions to the Debate on the Ship as a Total Institution: A Survey among Dalmatian Seafarers
Toni Popović
orcid.org/0000-0003-1881-489X
; University of Split, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Croatia
Renata Relja
orcid.org/0000-0002-5684-4558
; University of Split, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Croatia
Tea Gutović
orcid.org/0000-0003-0713-4610
; University of Split, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Croatia
Abstract
The paper applies the concept of total institution (E. Goffman) to the specific reality
of seafarers. During shipboard service, the mentioned social category has a limited choice
of physical space, content, and social contacts. Seafarers are required to adapt to the conditions
on board and to the authority of the company and of higher-ranking crew members that govern
their daily lives. The challenges of working and living at sea result in the trend of increasing
numbers of experienced and highly educated seafarers leaving the profession. The study aims
to investigate the seafaring conditions among Dalmatian seafarers, as well as their future career
projections. It was conducted between June and July 2020 using the method of online survey,
which included a snowball sample of 112 respondents. The results indicate a lack of satisfaction
in relation to most of the considered aspects of seafaring, except for earnings, including
the possibility of promotion and communication with family and friends. While most of the
seafarers surveyed consider these conditions sufficient to spend their entire working lives at
sea, one in three respondents has no such intention (31.4%). More specifically, 42.6% of the
respondents intend to stay at sea only because they believe finding a better job ashore would be difficult, while only a fifth love their job (19.2%). The results highlight the importance of
improving the conditions of seafaring in order to preserve high-quality personnel and reinforce
the safety culture on board ships. Further sociological research into the topic should provide a
basis for mitigating the negative effects of a total institution as an increasingly visible concept
within maritime sociology.
Keywords
seafarers; total institution; ship; Goffman; maritime sociology
Hrčak ID:
285799
URI
Publication date:
17.11.2022.
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