Cyprus Shipping News is delighted to announce ISWAN as the Charity Foundation of the 1st CSN Cyprus Crewing Conference “Maritime HR challenges in a world of changes”.

The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) is an international maritime charity which works to improve the lives of seafarers and their families with services, resources, strategies and advocacy.

Seafarers bring us 90% of the things we use every day and take care of us when we travel by sea, but their lives are often tough. They experience long periods away from family and friends with limited or no communication, fast turnaround in ports with restricted or no shore leave, reduced crew numbers and increased workloads. Welfare services and facilities both on board and ashore can be a lifeline for seafarers.

ISWAN’s vision is: ‘Better lives for all seafarers and their families’.

ISWAN operates SeafarerHelp – the number one free, confidential, 24/7/365, multilingual helpline providing help and support to seafarers and their families around the world. For yacht crew, ISWAN operates the free, 24-hour helpline Yacht Crew Help. ISWAN also has staff working in India and the Philippines to provide humanitarian support in these regions, and administers a number of relief funds to provide financial support to seafarers and their families in crisis or with urgent needs.

ISWAN works to drive change within the maritime industry for better health and wellbeing amongst seafarers, using data from its helplines to identify areas of need and inform new projects and research. ISWAN provides Maritime Mental Health Awareness training and delivers bespoke crew support helplines for a number of shipping companies and organisations within the industry.

In 2022, ISWAN assisted over 13,600 seafarers and their families of 94 different nationalities around the world. Over US $450,000 was awarded to seafarers and their families in need by the relief funds administered by ISWAN.