First of its kind seafarer welfare training programme launched

On the occasion of ‘Day of the Seafarer 2018’ focusing on wellbeing, the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and the World Maritime University announced a new crew welfare training programme designed to equip maritime professionals with key skills and knowledge to support welfare onboard.

Created in partnership of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and the World Maritime University, the Maritime Welfare (MARI-WEL) Professional Development Programme is the first programme of its kind to deliver a comprehensive overview of the topics and issues that relate to seafarer welfare.

MARI-WEL is designed to meet the needs of anyone who works with or interacts with seafarers, both onboard and onshore. This includes ship management companies, crewing agencies, port chaplains, and welfare providers.

MARI-WEL will be delivered as a distance learning course via an online portal consisting of a series of videos, lectures, and activities – enabling participants to follow the programme from anywhere in the world. Covering three separate modules, the programme provides participants with flexibility to follow the course at their own speed, and offline if need be. The three modules cover the following areas:

• Module 1: international regulations, conventions, codes, and seafarers’ rights
• Module 2: psycho-social and occupational health relating to seafarers
• Module 3: crew & resource management and land-based seafarer welfare

Commenting on the launch of MARI-WEL, Dave Heindel, Chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, said:

The purpose of MARI-WEL is to set a new professional standard that will increase the level of awareness of welfare issues across the industry…We anticipate that MARI-WEL will become the gold standard for maritime welfare training and encourage every shipping professional that works with seafarers to look at how the comprehensive programme can benefit them and their organisation.

Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of the World Maritime University, stated:

MARI-WEL is the first programme of its kind to take such a comprehensive look at seafarers’ welfare. It is an important step in supporting the work of the IMO, the International Labour Organization, the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and all other stakeholders focused on the welfare of seafarers.

The first MARI-WEL programme will commence on 1 August.