Neil Ellis

Neil joined SIRC in 2003 where he was initially appointed to work on the Global Labour market database. Prior to joining SIRC Neil worked at the Occupational and Health Psychology unit at Cardiff University as a research assistant on the fatigue, health and safety project. This project, conducted in collaboration with SIRC, examined the causes of stress and fatigue in the maritime industry. It was the first of its kind to take performance tests into the maritime environment, to which end Neil conducted a number of on board research trips. Neil’s first degree is a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Communication, and he also holds an MPhil, both of which were awarded by University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.  

Neil is currently working on the Seafarers’ health and access to healthcare in 2023 project funded by Stiftelsen Sveriges Sjömanshus (SSS) which looks at the health of international seafarers through questionnaires and interviews comparing their current health status to that found in studies completed in 2011 and 2016. For the first time the study will look at access to health care and the difficulties seafarers experience accessing such, as well as the difficulties that ship operators face in attempting to support their shipboard employees’ health.

In the past Neil has worked on a number of other projects including:

• Scoping exercise relating to the future evaluation of evidence underpinning decision-making in the shipping industry
• Mapping maritime professionals - Towards a full scale European data collection system
• Seafarers' mental health and wellbeing
• The relationships between shore-side and shipboard personnel
• Seafarers use of mandatory equipment
• Accommodation design
• The accuracy of perceptions of risk compared to actual accident data
• The supply of global seafaring labour
• Fraudulent certification
• Stress in the maritime industry
• Attitudes towards computer based training (CBT)

Publications include:

Conference Papers
Articles
Books
Industry Related Media
Industry Related Publications
SIRC Reports

Conference Papers 

Ellis, N. (2019) 'Changes in standards of shipboard accommodation', SIRC Symposium, Cardiff University, 13 June.  

*Ellis, N. and Sampson, H. (2013) 'Corporate Social Responsibility and the Quality of Seafarers Accommodation and Recreational Facilities', IMMIS2013 - Proceedings of the International Scientific Meeting for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Shipping, 2nd International Maritime Incident and Near Miss Reporting Conference, Maritime Center Vellamo, Kotka, Finland, 11-12 June, ISBN 978-951-29-5618-0, pages 91-109. (Best Paper Award at the IMISS 2013)

Ellis, N. and Sampson, H. (2013) 'Accommodation and Welfare on Contemporary Cargo Ships', SIRC Symposium, Cardiff University, 3-4 July, ISBN 1-900174-46-4.

Turgo, N., Ellis, N., Tang, L., Sampson, H. and Acejo, I. (2013)'The Use of Mandatory Equipment On-board', SIRC Symposium, Cardiff University, 3-4 July, ISBN 1-900174-46-4.

Turgo, N., Sampson, H., Acejo, I., Ellis, N. and Tang, L. (2013) 'Understanding the Relationships Between Ship and Shore Personnel',SIRC Symposium, Cardiff University, 3-4 July, ISBN 1-900174-46-4.

Tang, L., Acejo, I., Ellis, N., Turgo, N. and Sampson, H. (2013) 'Behind the Headlines? An Analysis of Accident Investigation Reports', SIRC Symposium, Cardiff University, 3-4 July, ISBN 1-900174-46-4.

Sampson, H., Bailey, N. and Ellis, N. (2013) '‘Walking the Talk’: How Companies Succeed in Managing Risk at Sea', SIRC Symposium, Cardiff University 3-4 July, ISBN 1-900174-46-4.

Ellis, N. and Sampson, H. (2013) ‘Corporate Social Responsibility and the Quality of Seafarers Accommodation and Recreational Facilities’ 2nd International Maritime Incident and Near Miss Reporting Conference (IMISS2013), Maritime Center Vellamo, Kotka, Finland, 11-12 June, ISBN 978-951-29-5618-0, pages 91-109.

Ellis, N., Sampson, H. and Wadsworth, E. (2011) ‘Fatalities at Sea’ SIRC Symposium Proceedings 2011, Cardiff University, July, ISBN: 1-900174-39-1.

Ellis, N. (2009) 'Vessel design and the wellbeing of seafarers', SIRC Symposium, Cardiff University, 8-9 July, ISBN 1-900174-36-7.

Ellis, N., Bloor, M, and Sampson, H. (2009) 'Patterns in Injury Reporting', SIRC Symposium, Cardiff University, July, ISBN 1-900174-36-7.

Ellis, N. (2008) ‘Accident and Incident Data: The Perceptions of the Risk of Certain Incidents Versus the Reality of Reported Data’ 2nd International Scientific Maritime Conference: Human Resources in the Shipping Industry: New Trends and Challenges in the 21st Century.  Mediterranean Hotel, Limassol, 21-22 November.

Ellis, N. (2007) 'Accident and incident data', SIRC Symposium, Cardiff University, July, ISBN 1-900174-31-6.

Ellis, N., (2005) ‘Safety and perceptions of risk’, SIRC Symposium, Cardiff University, July, ISBN 1-900174-26-X.

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Articles

Bailey, N., Winchester, N., Ellis, N. (2023) 'What is your intention? Tacit knowledge and community-based learning for collision avoidance in the global maritime industry', Journal of Vocational Education and Training, DOI: 10.1080/13636820.2023.2213685. 

Sampson, H., Ellis, N. (2020) 'Stepping up: the need for Proactive Employer Investment in Safeguarding Seafarers' Mental Health and Wellbeing, Maritime Policy & Management, DOI: 10.1080/03088839.2020.1867918.  

Sampson, H., Turgo, N., Acejo, I., Ellis, N., Tang, L. (2019) 'Between a rock and a hard place': the implications of lost autonomy and trust for professionals at sea, Work, Employment and Society, 33(4): 648-665, DOI: 10.1177/0950017018821284.

Sampson, H. and Ellis, N. (2015) ‘Elusive corporate social responsibility (CSR) in global shipping’, Journal of Global Responsibility, 6(1): 80-98, DOI 10.1108/JGR-08-2014-0028.

Ellis, N., Bloor, M. and Sampson, H. (2010) 'Patterns of Seafarer Injuries', Maritime Policy & Management, 37(2): 121-128. DOI: 10.1080/03088830903533742.

Allen, P., Burke, A. and Ellis, N. (2003) ‘A cross-vessel survey of seafarers examining factors associated with fatigue’, Contemporary Ergonomics 2003, pp 125-130. Edited by Paul McCabe, London: Taylor & Francis.

Burke, A., Ellis, N. and Allen, P. (2003) ‘The impact of work patterns on stress and fatigue among offshore worker populations’, Contemporary Ergonomics 2003, pp 131-136. Edited by Paul McCabe, London: Taylor & Francis.

Books

SIRC Reports

Sampson, H., Ellis, N. (2022) Scoping exercise relating to the future evaluation of evidence underpinning decision-making in the shipping industry, Cardiff: SIRC. 

Sampson, H., Ellis, N. (2019) Seafarers' mental health and wellbeing, IOSH, November. 

Sampson, H., Ellis, N. (2019) 'Fatalities and injuries among seafarers in the period 2000-2016', Cardiff: SIRC, February, ISBN: 1-900174-52-9. 

Acejo, I., Sampson, H., Turgo, N., Ellis, N., Tang, L. (2018) 'The causes of maritime accidents in the period 2002-2016', Cardiff: SIRC, November, ISBN: 1-900174-51-0.

Sampson, H., Ellis, N., Acejo, I., Turgo, N., Tang, L. (2018) 'The working and living conditions of seafarers on cargo ships in the period 2011-2016', Cardiff: SIRC, October, ISBN: 1-900174-20-2.

Sampson, H., Ellis, N., Acejo, A., Turgo, N. (2017) 'Changes in seafarers' health 2011-2016: A summary report', Cardiff: SIRC, July, ISBN: 1-900174-49-9.

Sampson, H., Acejo, I., Ellis, N., Tang, L. and Turgo, N. (2016) 'The use of mandatory equipment on board cargo ships: An outline report based on research undertaken in the period 2012-2016', Cardiff: SIRC, April, ISBN: 1-900174-74-2. 

Sampson, H., Acejo, I., Ellis, N., Tang, L. and Turgo, N. (2016) 'The relationships between seafarers and shore-side personnel: An outline report based on research undertaken in the period 2012-2016', Cardiff: SIRC, April, ISBN: 1-900174-48-0.

Bailey, N., Ellis, N. and Sampson, H. (2008) 'Training and Technology Onboard Ship: How seafarers learned to use the shipboard Automatic Identification System (AIS)', Cardiff: SIRC, July, ISBN: 1-900174-34-0.

Ellis, N. and Sampson, H. (2008) 'The Global Labour Market for Seafarers Working Aboard Merchant Cargo Ships 2003', Cardiff: SIRC, June, ISBN: 1-900174-35-9.

Bailey, N., Ellis, N. and Sampson, H. (2007) 'Perceptions of Risk in the Maritime Industry: Personal Injury', Cardiff: SIRC, October , ISBN: 1-900174-32-4.

Bailey, N., Ellis, N. and Sampson, H. (2006) 'Perceptions of Risk in the Maritime Industry: Ship Casualty', Cardiff: SIRC, August, ISBN: 1-900174-29-4.

Ellis, N., Sampson, H., Aguado, J.C., Baylon, A., Del Rosario, L., Lim, Y.F. and Veiga, J. (2005) What Seafarers think of CBT, Cardiff: SIRC, ISBN: 1-900174-28-6.

Smith, A., Lane, T., Bloor, M., Allen, P., Burke, A. and Ellis, N., (2003) ‘Fatigue Offshore: Phase 2. The short sea and coastal shipping industry’. Cardiff: SIRC.

Industry Related Publications

Ellis, N., Wadsworth, E., Sampson, H. (2021) Mapping Maritime Professionals - Towards a full-scale European data collection system, ETF & ECSA. 

Sampson, H., Ellis, N. (2019) Seafarers' mental health and wellbeing, Full Report, IOSH.

Sampson, H., Ellis, N. (2019) Seafarers' mental health and wellbeing, Summary Report, IOSH. 

Sampson, H., Ellis, N., Gould. E., Tang, L., Turgo, N. and Zhao, Z. (2012) ‘Safety and Shipping 1912-2012’, Report commissioned by Allianz which underpins their subsequent publication ‘Safety and Shipping 1912-2012: From Titanic to Costa Concordia, an insurer’s perspective from Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty’ available from Allianz GCS.

Industry Related Media

Ellis, N. (2008) 'Why should seafarers care about what researchers do?', The Sea, London: Mission to Seafarers, Issue 193, May/Jun 2008, pp 4-5.

Ellis, N. (2007) 'How to take some of the stress out of the job', The Sea, London: Mission to Seafarers, Issue 185 Jan/Feb 2007, pp 4-5.

Ellis, N., (2004) ‘Fatigue: what’s known and what’s being done’, The Sea, London: Mission to Seafarers, Issue 172, Nov/Dec, pp 4-5.

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