Placing our people first
Solvang optimizes our operations by empowering our employees: Physically, mentally and in terms of qualifications.
To every individual, good health both physically and mentally is a precondition for other aspects of an active lifestyle. Health is also a must-have for an employee to be able to contribute at work according to his or her qualifications and ambitions.
The fact that our people are our most valuable resource, has inspired Solvang to craft a health management plan called “Living the vision”, covering all our employees. In this way, the company commits itself to each and every individual’s inherent value and right to decent working conditions and dignity as a person.
Mental health
For several years including 2022, Solvang made mental health one of the main topics in our health management policy. Regular programs are being carried out. Since the ripple effects of the pandemic decreased throughout the year, Solvang directed more energy into colloquial activities like our resilience programme ”Let’s Talk”, modeled by Shell. Both online and offline mental training is regular for our seafarers.
Nutrition and exercise
The old Norwegian saying “a healthy soul in a healthy body” applies to Solvang in the form of a conscientious catering programme covering our vessels and main onshore workplaces. The programme has been designed in collaboration with the Thome Group, and it includes training all our cooks to do menu planning with nutritional elements. The programme is part of Solvang’s health and nutrition policy, which provides guidance to our seafarers on how to choose healthy food.
In 2022, Solvang kept up the Re:Start concept “eat-move-sleep-social relations”. Our dedicated human resources department continues to deploy the programme as a foundation for Solvang’s wellness process and policy.
Halcyon Healthcare
Solvang cooperates with Halcyon Healthcare Clinic in Manila Philippines for premedical (PEME) screening of our Filipino seafarers. For more than a decade, everyone signing on a Solvang vessel from the Philippines has been undergoing a NIS (Norwegian) medical check-up. We also cooperate with GARD (our P&I club) for extensive PEMEs for all Filipino seafarers. This is a thorough health examination made in addition to individual conversation with medical personnel about diet, nutrition and regular exercise. In recent years, some employees reported challenges to continue their healthy on-board lifestyle when staying home on leave. Solvang’s response “healthy on board, healthy at home” includes following up seafarers on vacation via Halcyon Healthcare Clinic. Through Living the vision we also encourage all personnel to retain their healthy routines at all times, for their own benefit.
Health insurance and pension
Solvang covers our employees with a comprehensive health insurance scheme. Norwegian seafarers are covered by Norwegian social security. Employees of all other nationalities are insured through Marine Benefits, covering the employee and his family, including doctor visits, sickness, and hospitalization. The system is cashless, so the employee books an appointment via the insurance company without paying in advance. Solvang also has pension plans for all nationalities not covered by a national defined-contribution pension system, saving a proportion of their yearly wage. Our focus is to create a package that secures good health, stability and security for our colleagues and their families in the long term.
Social support
Since more than 95% of Solvang’s maritime employees are from the Philippines, it is natural for us to support activities in that country in particular.
Through the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, Solvang has (as one of 12 members) been supporting the SOS Children’s Village in Cebu with annual funding for their operations since 2008.
In Norway we also give financial support to various activities like The Norwegian Sea Rescue Society, The Salvation Army and Varmestuens Venner to mention some.
