ISWAN 2024: A year in Review
Scorpio is proud to collaborate with ISWAN (International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network), supporting their vital work in improving the welfare of seafarers. Life at sea presents unique challenges, and ISWAN remains a steadfast support system for seafarers worldwide. Over the past year, ISWAN has provided essential assistance to thousands of seafarers and their families, offering resources and guidance to ensure their well-being both at sea and onshore. Capt. Ashley Cooper, Group Marine Director of Scorpio, is a member of ISWAN’s Board of Trustees, in which capacity he is involved in the governance of it’s activities. In their annual report (available on their website), they have published all the data on the last year of assistance.
Seafarer Help: A Lifeline 24/7
One of ISWAN’s most vital services is Seafarer Help, a free, confidential, multilingual helpline available 24/7, 365 days a year. In the past year alone, ISWAN assisted 6,932 seafarers and their families from 103 nationalities. Specifically for merchant navy seafarers, 5,817 individuals received support, addressing a variety of concerns, including immigration paperwork, financial issues, and mental health struggles. Through over 8,800 calls and messages, ISWAN opened and assisted nearly 3,900 new cases.
ISWAN provides regional support for seafarers and their families, operating teams in key maritime regions such as India and the Philippines, and offering localized support tailored to the needs of seafarers in those areas.
In 2024:
- The India team assisted 341 seafarers and their families in 138 cases, including 226 cases of abandonment at sea.
- The Philippines team handled 170 new cases, reaching 5,386 seafarers and their families.
- ISWAN conducted 82 training sessions and presentations across both regions, educating thousands of seafarers on coping strategies, safety, and well-being.
- Awareness campaigns against fraudulent crewing agents in India provided guidance and support to affected seafarers.
A Safe and Inclusive Industry
ISWAN’s commitment to improving life at sea extends beyond crisis assistance. Their ‘Safe at Sea…It Takes All of Us!’ campaign actively promotes allyship and inclusivity, raising awareness of the safety challenges faced by women in the industry. Additionally, the Social Interaction Matters (SIM) Project, continues to develop guidelines for enhancing social well-being on board, helping seafarers build stronger connections while at sea. Scorpio has actively worked with ISWAN to develop the SIM Project as well, contributing to research and implementation strategies to ensure its effectiveness across the industry.
Family Outreach Program
Recognizing the critical role that families play in a seafarer’s well-being, ISWAN developed a Family Outreach Program designed to educate and empower families. The program, which the Scorpio crewing offices in the Philippines and India played a pioneering part in the launchof, aims to bridge the gap between seafarers and their loved ones, ensuring that families are well-informed about the challenges of life at sea and equipped with the resources needed to support their seafarers effectively.
For crew members facing challenges at sea, ISWAN is just a call or message away. SeafarerHelp is available around the clock to provide emotional support, practical assistance, and advice.
- Website: www.seafarerhelp.org
- Email: help@seafarerhelp.org
- WhatsApp & Viber: See website above
- Hotline: Toll-free numbers for various countries listed online, scan the QR code below.
This article is featured in the Beacon 27 magazine. While onboard, you can download the full issue from DocMap: O:\ApplicationData\FileSync\fromoffice\all\Beacon\
