In 2020, the Seafarers’ Pension Fund received a testamentary donation from Sweden, from a person named Ove Ericsson (1937–2020). One of the strategic priorities of the Fund is to reduce the risk of disability among seafarers. The risk can be reduced by promoting seafarers’ well-being at work in different ways.

Good work deserves to be continued. To make use of the testamentary donation, the Fund has decided to distribute a monetary award of 1,900 euro annually during 2021–2026 to a seafarer or shipping company that has most successfully contributed to the promotion of seafarers’ health and well-being at work.

The 2023 award for the promotion of health and well-being at work

The Seafarers’ Pension Fund has decided to grant the 2023 Ove Ericsson Award to Godby Shipping / Trailer Link as a recognition of the company's goal-oriented and successful work for the promotion of health and well-being at work of the seafarers working aboard their ships.

We extend our thanks to Godby Shipping / Trailer Link for their good work and wish them fair winds and following seas also in the future.

“We are happy and proud to have received the Ove Ericsson Award for the promotion of health and well-being at work aboard our ships. For many years, we have been offering our personnel different types of activities, ranging from inspiration courses for cooks to various exercise competitions and sponsoring of participation fees to sports events. It goes without saying that our ships are equipped with gyms, exercise bikes and other training gear. We encourage the staff working aboard our ships to participate in the Formare project. Health and well-being are of interest to our personnel, as was evident from the results of the job satisfaction survey we carried out last winter in co-operation with the Seafarers’ Pension Fund. In the opinion of our seafarers, exercise as well as motivation and encouragement to lead a healthy lifestyle are the most important incentives they wish to receive to support their well-being, says Eva Mikkola-Karlström from Godby Shipping Ab / Trailer Link Ab and continues”

“We work together with the occupational health care services as regards preventive health care. In addition to the standard medical examinations, we offer our personnel the opportunity to a more extensive medical examination every four years, also including fitness tests.”

“This award motivates us further, and we have already asked the opinion of our seafarers on how the money should be spent, Eva Mikkola-Karlström summarize."