Størkersen K.V., Laiou A., Nævestad T.O., Yannis G., “Production and protection. Seafarers’ handling of pressure in gemeinschaft and gesellshaft”, Proceedings of the European Safety and Reliability Conference ESREL 2018, NTNU, Norway, 17-21 June 2018.

Seafarers experience conflicting objectives of production and protection in most operations. This study explores how seafarers deal with such pressures, through an analysis of interview data from 20 seafarers working on Norwegian- and Greek-controlled coastal and international passenger and cargo vessels of different size. Despite the various contexts, the results show similar conflicting objectives and pressure handling. The pressure is experienced differently, however, due to diverse organizational relations. Seafarers on larger vessels in large companies describe business-like relations (gesellshaft) and direct production pressures from superiors. Seafarers on small vessels in small companies contrastingly report of close relations (gemeinschaft) and an internal wish to be efficient because they feel responsible for their company.