ISWAN and CHIRP have entered into a MoU to cooperate in improving seafarers’ safety and welfare. By working together, ISWAN through its SeafarersHelp will assist seafarers to complete the initial report to CHIRP highlighting unsafe working practices. This will be particularly helpful for seafarers whose first language is not English.
ISWAN regularly hears from seafarers about unsafe working practices and in future will assist seafarers to complete the initial report to CHIRP highlighting lessons learned. By working together in this way, CHIRP and ISWAN will help to ensure that seafarers’ safety and welfare are given a high priority.
Ray Barker, Head of Operations at ISWAN, reports that: ‘We believe that through our daily contact with seafarers we will be able to increase the number of reports to CHIRP, particularly from seafarers whose first language is not English. Through CHIRP’s investigation and reporting processes we are confident that these reports will lead to safety improvements in the maritime industry’.
Further, as CHIRP regularly reports personal and employment problems in seafarers, it suggests that they can be put in contact with ISWAN’s SeafarerHelp team. If so, a SeafarerHelp officer will contact the seafarer to offer assistance with personal and employment problems, as well as emotional support and counselling if necessary.
Captain John Rose, Director of CHIRP Maritime, said: ‘We are very pleased with this MoU because it brings together two organisations whose sole interests are to improve the lives of seafarers all around the world. Working in partnership with likeminded organisations is a great pleasure and together we can achieve more for the benefit of seafarers than we can on our own.’
