In its latest ‘Training onboard’ newsletter providing health tips for seafarers, ISWAN shared two reasons why going for a short walk around the ship or out on deck after eating a heavy meal could be beneficial to crew members onboard.
ISWAN, in partnership with InterManager, ICS, ICMA and ITF, issued a new booklet, entitled ‘Arrested and Detained Vessels, and Abandoned Seafarers’, providing guidance to welfare organisations dealing with incidents of seafarers being abandoned and vessels being arrested or detained.
15% of deaths at sea are by suicide. The key question to ask when shocking tragedies onboard come to light is this: do they signify social isolation? And, what leads to seafarers’ social isolation? Recent SAFETY4SEA Poll finds that seafarers want their work to be less stressful. Increased workload and the subsequent fatigue were reported the biggest obstacles for social life onboard gathering 38% of our readers’ votes, surpassing other “barriers” like isolation from family (10%), connectivity (19%); bureaucracy (17%) and team bonding (16%).
With the increasing awareness of how important mental health is for seafarers, ISWAN says that more needs to be done to change the culture in shipping. This will create more openness and less stigma about mental health. According to the World Health Organisation, one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders.
ISWAN, partnered with MHG Insurance Brokers to launch a new research on seafarers who work on superyachts to investigate welfare issues specific to the sector, backed up by in-depth interviews and diary studies. The research’s results were announced on December 7, at a seminar held at Inmarsat’s headquarters in London.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Ray Barker, Head of Operations , ISWAN (International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network), explains why industry has increased its focus on seafarers’ mental health lately, referring to the major human and financial risks that could arise in case a seafarer had a mental health crisis while on duty
In commemoration of World AIDS Day today, marking its 30th anniversary, we prepared an article-feature to spread awareness and help curb the rising cases of HIV infection and correct the stigma and discrimination that afflicts those living in this medical condition, and especially those working onboard. World AIDS Day 2018 theme encourages everyone to know their HIV status!
ISWAN, ICS and InterManager launched a new guidance for shipping companies and manning agents, on dealing with situations involving missing seafarers. The guidance covers managing relationships onboard, actions that should be taken, and managing relationships with the families of seafarers who have gone missing.
North P&I Club has presented its new ‘Mind Matters’ campaign, which includes a confidential helpline for crew. The helpline is provided in partnership with the International Seafarer’s Welfare and Assistance Network. The new campaign targets to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing at sea.
Piracy incidents in the Sulu and Celebes Sea have been a cause of major concern for seafarers and the shipping industry in general, as crews kidnappings have been regularly seen by gangs in the area. There are various reports which suggest that maritime crime including armed robbery and piracy incidents in the region has seen an upward trend in the last few years.
