Swedish Club Annual General Meeting Highlights People-Centric Approach
In a significant move, The Swedish Club, a leading mutual insurance association for the maritime industry, has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing crew wellbeing and addressing mental health issues. This focus is a recognition of the importance of a healthy crew for safety and overall success in the industry.
At their 153rd Annual General Meeting (AGM), held this year, crew wellbeing, member engagement, and staff development were high on the agenda. The event, moderated by Phil Parry, facilitated thoughtful and insightful discussions on the topic, with speakers including Simon Grainge, Tim Ponath, Captain Ann Pletschke, Professor Neil Greenberg, Charles Watkins, and Clas Malmström, who discussed mental health and resilience at sea.
Thomas Nordberg, Managing Director of The Swedish Club, endorsed the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) campaign “My Harassment-Free Ship,” which champions a culture of care, safety, dignity, and respect for seafarers free from harassment and discrimination. The Club supports its members—the shipowners—in promoting best practices, knowledge sharing, and developing robust policies and support systems aimed at creating respectful, supportive shipboard communities.
To address root causes of harassment, The Swedish Club emphasizes the importance of structured leadership development. They advocate investing in targeted resources, simulation-based scenarios, and competency frameworks focused on human factors to improve leadership quality across all maritime industry levels. This approach aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and crew retention, fostering mental wellbeing by ensuring high-trust, productive, and respectful workplaces—key components for supporting crew mental health.
In 2024, The Swedish Club expanded its wellbeing efforts with new resources such as a practical family guide and a children's book. The Club's wellbeing programme, Check Your Pulse, is now a fundamental part of risk management, business performance, and industry responsibility. The Club's new resources are being translated into multiple languages to support maritime crews worldwide.
The Swedish Club's commitment to care extends to its own culture and business practices. In 2020, the Club finished the year with an operating profit of USD 3 million and record free reserves at USD 231 million. The Club reported strong renewals for 2022, with a volume growth of 5% for P&I and 18% for H&M.
Nordberg stated that care is a value the Club lives by, not just a service they offer. The Swedish Club aims to build a resilient, responsible, and future-fit organization by embedding care into all aspects of its operations. The overall result for 2021 produced a combined ratio for 2021 of 129%.
The enhanced Pre-employment Medical Examination (PEME) programme is being extended both within the Philippines and into other regions. The Swedish Club's wellbeing efforts are aimed at reducing risk at every level, with the ultimate goal of fostering a healthier, more supportive, and more productive maritime industry for all.
- At the AGM, discussions about crew wellbeing, mental health, and leadership development were central, with speakers addressing these topics, helping to underwrite effective workplace-wellness strategies within the maritime industry.
- To further support its commitment to mental health, The Swedish Club launched new resources in 2024, such as a family guide and a children's book, as part of their Check Your Pulse wellbeing programme, which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of maritime crews worldwide.
- By focusing on science-backed approaches like structured leadership development, wellbeing initiatives, and health-and-wellness policies, The Swedish Club is working towards creating a mentally healthy, productive, and respectful work environment, reducing risks and fostering a positive culture across the entire maritime industry.
