LATEST NEWS 

Putting Seafarers at the Heart of Shipping - LISW Webinar

Last week we launched the initial findings of our landmark study of seafarer health and wellbeing initiatives which is being conducted by Yale University with the report being presented on the 26th November 2021. The event, ‘Putting Seafarers at the Heart of Shipping’ took place on Thursday 16th September at London International Shipping week and was targeted at anyone in the industry with an interest in seafarer welfare.

Speakers included:

• Sandra Welch, CEO of Seafarers Hospital Society
• Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping
• Mr Ismael Cobos Delgado, Head, Maritime Training and Human Element at the International Maritime Organisation
• Dr Olivia Swift, Senior Programme Manager of Lloyd’s Register Foundation
• Dr Martin Slade, Director of Research, Yale Occupational & Environmental Medicine and Director of Yale University Maritime Research

To see a video of the event, click here

COMING UP SOON

Seafarer Health and Wellbeing - Hybrid Conference

On Friday 26th November we will be hosting a hybrid conference on Seafarer Health and Wellbeing. This will showcase the full results and recommendations of the Yale University study and provide an opportunity for all those with a stake in seafarer health and wellbeing, from shipping companies to maritime welfare organisations, to discuss the way forward.

The conference will also see the launch of the report of the SeaFit Programme and provide an opportunity to hear about future plans for the project.

The event will be held at Trinity House, so save this date and we’ll send you details of how to register nearer the time.

They are:

Responsive - to the problems faced by seafarers and their families

Pioneering - in our approach to treatment, medical practice, and training

Inclusive and non-discriminatory – in the treatment of seafarers and the provision of opportunities

In June we delved deeper into what we mean by being ‘responsive’. This time we take a closer look at our ‘pioneering approach’ which was exemplified in 1996 by the establishment of the Seafarers’ Benefits and Advice Line, now SAIL, the first telephone helpline for seafarers, in a joint initiative with the CAB. Twenty-five years on and SAIL continues to provide seafarers with invaluable support, advice and information on benefits, debt, employment, and other issues tailored to their individual circumstances

In 1988 SHS conducted a review of its role in the seafaring community and appointed a firm of consultants to investigate the needs of seafarers and their families. The consultants identified a significant gap in the support available and recommended the establishment of a telephone counselling line or help service aimed solely at seafarers and their families.

The Society approached the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) and together with Eltham CAB produced a framework for a new telephone information and advice helpline to be run according to the same standards as any other CAB but focused exclusively on the seafaring community. The helpline would be funded and supported by the Society with day-to-day management provided by Eltham CAB which was in the Borough of Greenwich - close to SHS’s base and full of maritime history.

Wellington launch

The new service was launched on 24th September 1996 on board HQS Wellington - the Headquarters Ship of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners - moored on the Thames. The Rt. Hon. John Prescott MP, himself an ex-merchant seaman, was guest of honour and said: “This helpline is great news and will be a tremendous boost for seafarers and their families. I know from personal experience how people at sea can become isolated, feeling there is no one to turn to deal with their problems.”

• Saga magazine announces: ‘Merchant seafarers be alerted – especially those retired or unemployed or today in a different line of work. You and your families can now use the Seafarers Benefits Advice Line.’

• Charity Magazine reports that the Telephone Helplines Association (THA) wants to tackle the charlatans charging premium call rate. They wrote: ‘They would surely approve of the latest helpline set up by the Seamen’s Hospital Society offering help at local call rates on a wide range of matters.’

1997: 
SBAL welcomed by royalty.

Visit from Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

1997:
Society votes to fund the advice line entirely after initial two year funding contract with support from ITF and Ellerman Foundation.

2000:
SHS agrees further three years’ funding and increase in grant enables SBAL to employ another part-time adviser.

2006:
Return to HQS Wellington for 10th anniversary event.

2008:
SBAL becomes SAIL.

2008:
New money advice and financial capability (MAFC) project launched in response to growing need amongst seafaring community, funded by Maritime Charities Funding Group (now MCG). A total of 310 people received financial capability training through the project.

2009:
First dedicated full-time manager appointed.

2011: 
MAFC project absorbed into SAIL and funded solely by SHS.

2012: 
SAIL takes Royal Navy referrals from the White Ensign Association on trial basis.

2016:
Extra funding from Greenwich Hospital enables SAIL to target RN and RM seafarers. Greenwich Hospital and The Seafarers Charity become equal funders with SHS. Client numbers increase significantly as result.

August 2016:
SAIL launches 0800 Freephone number.

HRH The Princess Royal returns to Greenwich.

2019:
Specialist caseworker employed to target fishing families initially to conduct research then as an advice post.

Since 1996 the problems presented by clients have become increasingly complex and time-consuming and the depth and breadth of the service provided has grown as a result. Debt now takes up a significant proportion of the caseload and is both time-consuming and complex.

As part of Citizens Advice Greenwich, SAIL is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) so that it can help clients reduce debt and maximise their income – something which has become even more important in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

SAIL also has a unique role in processing debt relief orders on behalf of clients. This is a cheaper, quicker and simpler alternative to bankruptcy and far less stressful for clients.

On a day-to-day basis welfare benefits, debt, employment and housing problems continue to dominate and much of SAIL’s advice and casework includes negotiation with third parties on behalf of clients.

The Seafarers Hospital Society and Yale University are collaborating on a landmark study to determine the effectiveness of initiatives taken by shipping companies, charities, and the wider maritime sector to keep seafarers healthy and safe.  This six-month study aims to review existing research and recommendations, identify current practices, determine their coverage across the industry and assess their perceived effectiveness.

The results of the study will be disseminated to the global seafarer community to encourage the adoption of best practice and improve seafarer health, safety, and wellbeing.

Independent global charity Lloyd’s Register Foundation (the Foundation), which has a mission to engineer a safer world, is also working on the project to provide support and expertise in evidence collection with a specific focus on mental health and wellbeing.

As part of the research four virtual round table meetings were held where shipping companies, policy makers, trade unions, regulatory bodies and maritime welfare organisations shared their perspectives on seafarers’ mental health and wellbeing. Topics included training, living conditions, interpersonal factors and work demands.

The research report and findings will be presented at the Seafarer Health and Wellbeing conference on 26th November 2021.

SHS GRANTS

SHS provide grants for emergencies, covering anything from stairlifts to washing machines, from mobility scooters and respite care, to assistance with funeral costs and essential debts. An additional source of help is now available thanks to the Anchor Fund, which was set up by The Seafarers Charity specifically for Merchant Navy personnel. The fund is targeted at merchant seafarers who are based in the UK and are suffering financial hardship due to Covid-19.

Demand for hardship grants has decreased in this quarter - we awarded 72 grants totalling £39,247.06

And thanks for grants awarded:

“We can’t believe your generosity in our time of need. Thank you!”

“Recently you helped fund a local fisherman with his general living expenses. With your help and that of other charities he and his children were able to have a holiday together and had an amazing time. I've received lots of happy photographs including this one with the message: ‘you can't put a price on quality time spent together’. So.... thanks again.”

Physiotherapy grants
27 seafarers accessed treatment: 14 MN and 13 fishers; 116 sessions funded

Togetherall
9 seafarers accessed the service

SAIL
advised 462 clients

SAIL
raised £365,777 for clients

The Covid pandemic has provided new opportunities for engagement in a way that could never have been foreseen. We quickly realised there was an intractable gap in the NHS national vaccination programme. Migrant fishermen in particular, who were not registered with a GP, were not being invited for their vaccinations and yet were working in close quarters alongside their UK crewmates.

We became the connecting influence between the fishermen, large boat owners and the NHS. The Fishermen’s Mission Port Staff and SeaFit Healthy Lifestyle Advisers and local NHS Trusts all worked together to set up various appointments and drop-in based methods, from quayside pop-ups to reserving block appointments at vaccine centres. This led to the take up of just over 1400 vaccinations and contacts made with fishermen to offer further support. 

The Future

The SeaFit Programme will continue to operate with the support of SHS and The Fishermen’s Mission for the remainder of this year. Plans are still to be firmed up but here is a preview of some of the items on our action list:

• Continue to raise awareness of health and well-being support for as long as we can through our multi-agency partnerships.
• More health events on topic related health matters, such as prostate cancer, diabetes and stopping smoking.
• Continue to reach out to migrant crew members, working with others to encourage more of them to register with a GP.
• Establish Healthy Lifestyle Advisors in other locations, with thoughts of a hybrid model being run from two or three seafarers’ centres.
• Run a campaign for fishermen and their families to take up pre-paid dental plans to spread the costs of treatment.