The Nautical Institute is delighted to announce a new collaboration with The Seafarers’ Charity to develop a new range of training courses aimed at improving the leadership and management skills of seafarers and those working ashore.

Increasing reports about bullying, harassment and abuse onboard, and its impact on the work experience and mental health of seafarers, have driven this new collaboration between the two maritime charities – both of whom are interested in improving working life at sea. This new collaboration aims to enhance leadership and management skills, and to promote a shift in cultural expectations about acceptable workplace behaviours onboard. It is anticipated that, over time, this may lead to a reduction in unacceptable behaviour onboard and, consequently, an improvement in the mental health and welfare of seafarers.

A leading voice in the maritime industry, The Nautical Institute has a well-established track record in developing training courses that support mariners in their Continuing Professional Development. They have joined forces with The Seafarers’ Charity, a leading grant funder of maritime welfare services, to support the development of three new training courses for seafarers which will be accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management. Launching in Summer 2023 the new training courses include:

• Leadership & Management (levels 3 and 5)
• Coaching & Mentoring (levels 3 and 5)
• Welfare Toolkit aimed at enhancing resilience.

Deborah Layde, Chief Executive of The Seafarers’ Charity, said: “If we want a culture of care to become the norm for people working at sea, then we need to support an enhancement of leadership skills at sea. Training is an important part of this as it helps seafarers to understand what good leadership looks like. This will support a behavioural and cultural shift in expectations of standards of leadership. Ultimately, this will improve the lives of people working at sea as everyone will benefit from more positive interactions and good leadership which challenges unacceptable behaviours.  In addition, the Welfare Toolkit will provide resilience training – a transferrable skill which is helpful for all seafarers at any level of their career as well as those working onshore to support them.”

The new training courses are the first practical initiative which will be delivered. The collaboration will explore further opportunities to collaborate on other initiatives to support enhanced leadership and prevent toxic behaviours in the workplace which can be damaging to everyone’s mental health and wellbeing.

John Lloyd, Chief Executive Officer of The Nautical Institute, said: “The funding from The Seafarers’ Charity provides us with the opportunity to extend the range of educational opportunities that we already offer. These new courses involve the application of theory to the workplace through reflective practice.  They are equally appropriate for those at sea such as navigators, engineers, deck officers, mates or cadets, as they will be for those ashore including superintendents, DPAs or general management. Everyone who participates in the courses will develop leadership skills that will be of benefit no matter their rank and their attendance will improve the lives of all working at sea through positive and good management.”