'I Love You. Over’, a Lloyd's Register Foundation film

The documentary film, ‘I Love You. Over’, highlights the critical role seafarers play, and the impact safety challenges can have on their physical and mental wellbeing.  

Based on a powerful love story of a Filipino seafarer and his wife, the film highlights the work and sacrifice of seafarers particularly focussing on those from the Philippines. On any given day, 250,000 Filipino seafarers are offshore – if they all stayed home, the world economy would collapse. 

The film was launched on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) designated Day of the Seafarer in recognition of the role played by those in the maritime sector and shown to an invited audience of over 200 people at its headquarters in London (UK). 

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said: "The International Day of the Seafarer is not only an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the incredible contribution seafarers make, day in, day out, to world trade, but also a chance to reflect on the sacrifices they make, including spending long periods of time away from their homes and families. We must all reflect on how we can work to ensure that seafarers’ wellbeing is recognized, protected and improved.”

Olivia Swift, Senior Programmes Manager at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, said: “Today, 90% of the world’s traded goods are delivered by sea, which is why oceans - and the 1.89 million seafarers working, every day - play such an important role in facilitating global trade.

“We want this documentary film to help drive the conversation about safety for seafarers and show the challenges faced by this essential workforce. All seafarers should be safe in the knowledge that while working at sea, they are protected from physical injury and supported in reducing risks to their mental health.

“We hear too often that seafarers experience social isolation, long working hours, demanding working conditions, precarious employment, the threat of violence, bullying or harassment, little or no shore leave and periods at sea, away from home.”

While safety risks are minimised by employers’ proactive action and excellent pastoral and practical support provided to seafarers by maritime charities, Lloyd’s Register Foundation believes there is a role for everyone – regulators, NGOs, employers, unions, charities, and seafarers themselves – in keeping seafarers safe and well.

Olivia added: “The maritime industry is making steady progress towards a more supportive and safe working environment for seafarers – but there is still a long way to go. With the support of our grant funding, we can work with others to test out ideas through pilot studies, proof of concept projects or activities targeting policy, business and the third sector, that support effective and long-lasting interventions.”

As a global charity with a long heritage in maritime, Lloyd’s Register Foundation works to engineer a safer work environment for seafarers. By using evidence and insight and providing grant funding, Lloyd’s Register Foundation is uniquely placed to support seafarer communities through its cross-border partnerships and by supporting the development of new skills and innovation to raise awareness of ocean-related safety challenges with a view to driving positive change.