Seafarers' health and welfare research gets the chop as Cardiff shutters SIRC

The renowned Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC) – which was set up in 1995 on the initiative of Nautilus International General Secretary Mark Dickinson who at the time ran the ITF Seafarers’ Trust – is being forced to close at the end of June because of swingeing cost-cutting measures by Cardiff University, Andrew Draper reports. 

SIRC Director, Professor Helen Sampson, herself a former seafarer, admitted it was 'a sad time' as the centre's work ends. She confirmed two academic members of staff had just left after taking voluntary redundancy. She is due to leave at the end of June.

She told Nautilus: 'I feel we've made a positive contribution to the conversations that have gone on around seafarers' welfare. Most importantly, I really do feel that we've had the opportunity to allow seafarers' voices to be heard. That's really what our research has done.'

She added the closure was not just down to Cardiff University cost-cutting and said: 'This is not an unexpected outcome of the high costs of good quality research in an environment where external funders are less able or willing to provide full funding for projects. It does suggest that some serious thought needs to be given to how research is funded in the future if we are to avoid a situation where the only research which is possible is of a ‘quick and dirty’ nature and inevitably of less use.

She said in an email to SIRC backers: 'After 30 years as an active research centre, I think it is reasonable to say that SIRC has made a significant contribution to the global body of available work on the health and welfare of seafarers.'

She confirmed the centre's website – https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/seafarers-international-research-centre – would continue for 'a reasonable period of time' as a public resource.

Ms Sampson has been granted the status of professor emerita, which allows her to continue her connection with Cardiff University, based in the heart of the Welsh capital, and those interested in SIRC's work.

General Secretary of Nautilus International, Mark Dickinson, himself a graduate of Cardiff University, said the ITF Seafarers’ Trust endowed a Chair at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) now part of Cardiff University.

‘With Professor John King and Professor Alisdair Couper we wanted to encourage academic research into the needs of seafarers. At that time there was very little research in the field of social sciences relevant to seafarers and this, we felt, needed to be addressed urgently.

‘When Alasdair retired, Professor Tony Lane took over and then Professor Helen Sampson. Between these world-leading social science academics, SIRC has made a huge impact, and it is a sad moment that it has now been forced to close.

‘My sincere thanks to everyone involved, the many researchers, PhD students and interns who have contributed so much over the years 30 years of SIRC’s life. Rest assured you have all made a huge contribution to advancing the interests of seafarer.’  

SIRC maintains a broad focus on the occupational health, safety and welfare of contemporary seafarers. Topics covered include regulation, training, faith, multinational workplaces and port facilities. Its latest research is on seafarers’ health and access to health care at sea. It says its findings are used for research-based policy recommendations that enhance seafarers' health.

It has carried out research for organisations including the European Commission, the International Maritime Organization, the International Transport Workers’ Federation, the UK Government’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the UK's Health and Safety Executive and the European Maritime Safety Agency.

The centre receives funding from the Lloyd's Register Foundation to support its research unit and from the Nippon Foundation in support of a fellowship programme for postgraduates.

News of the centre's demise was greeted with fury by the University and College Union (UCU), which represents academic and support staff. Andy Williams, media and communications officer for the Cardiff UCU branch, told Nautilus the centre has done 'excellent and important work' on labour and welfare and human rights on board ships and taking ships as workplaces in international waters has been a hub of international students and scholars.

'And it's continued since its inception to do really important, impactful work which contributes towards saving people's lives. What we see with examples like this, and there are many other examples throughout the university, is the less reported side of the disastrous and unnecessary widespread cuts that Cardiff University's management have brought in this year. The headlines talk about the school of nursing, music, modern languages, history and ancient history and religion.

'But what we don't see reported, because there are too many to count, is the really sad  loss of incredibly important specialist research groups doing important work that impacts lives and economies in all sorts of different ways...it's just another sad indication of the disregard for the world leading research that gets done in the university.’

University unions suspended industrial action in May in return for the university withdrawing compulsory redundancies. Consultations are ongoing to 30 June. The university is in deficit by some £30 million per year.

Cardiff University recently announced its controversial 'Academic Futures' programme of cuts had been approved by its supreme decision-making body, the University Council.

SIRC has arranged with UK charity the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to set up a ‘JustGiving’ page to mark the end of the centre. 'This will allow those of you who want to show your appreciation for the past work of SIRC to do so by donating to a charity that assists seafarers, and others in trouble at sea, with a lifeboat launch and rescue service,' said Sampson. https://www.justgiving.com/page/seafarers-research-centre  

Coming soon: Nautilus YouTube interview with Professor Helen Sampson