This study focuses on impediments for seafarers' motivaion at work for the specific shipping company (organizational commitment), and seafarers' motivation for working in their particular occupation (occupational commitment). The study takes its departure in the lingering difficulties to recruit and retain qualified senior seafarers in the Swedish shipping sector. Statistical analyses are empolyed, using a survey material of 1,309 Swedish seafarers collected in 2010. The results show that the main negative effects on seafarers' commitment at work primarily have to do with invested - or wasted - time, and flag state worries. Flagging-out imposes a significant decline in organizational commitment for all seafarers due to the perception of social composition onboard. The oldest seafarers demonstrate diminished occupational commitment under a foreign flag due to degree of satisfaction with the social security structure. The youngest seafarers display a decline in occupational commitment related to time served on the same ship, partly due to a decline in satisfaction with work content for each year on the same ship. In the concluding discussion, the findings are discussed in more details and recommendations are put forward.