- The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) and the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) have signed a three-year MoU to enhance welfare, safety, and wellbeing support for Indian seafarers and their families.
- The collaboration will deliver joint initiatives in training, crisis response, mental health, family outreach, and port-level welfare improvements.
- A designated Working Group will monitor progress, ensuring sustained impact for seafarers both at sea and ashore.
DG Shipping and ISWAN have formalised a strategic partnership combining regulatory oversight with welfare expertise. The agreement aims to provide coordinated emotional, psychosocial, and practical assistance to Indian seafarers, while also extending outreach to their families. ISWAN’s International Operations Manager, Chirag Bahri, emphasised the value of closer collaboration with the maritime administration to address critical welfare challenges and deliver impactful programmes, according to safety4sea.
Key Collaboration Areas
The MoU outlines several joint initiatives:
- Delivering Awareness and Induction Training for cadets and ratings through ISWAN’s Seafarers’ Education and Awareness Sessions (SEAS) in DG Shipping-approved institutes.
- Promoting Port Welfare Committees under MLC 2006 to enhance port-level services for visiting seafarers.
- Expanding ISWAN’s Family Outreach Programme to strengthen communication and emotional support for seafarers’ families.
- Jointly promoting ISWAN’s Safe at sea…it takes all of us! campaign to advance gender safety and allyship at sea.
- Integrating ISWAN’s 24/7 multilingual SeafarerHelp helpline into DG Shipping’s upcoming grievance redressal platform, offering assistance on harassment, health concerns, piracy, abandonment, fraud, and crisis situations.
- Hosting regional events to raise awareness on mental health, safety, and wellbeing in the maritime sector.
Focus on Family and Shore-Side Support
The agreement recognises the essential role of seafarers’ families and onshore support networks, especially during emergencies such as abandonment, harassment, or psychological distress. DG Shipping’s Director General, Shri Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, reaffirmed the joint commitment to creating a safer, more supportive maritime environment and ensuring that no seafarer or family is left without assistance.
Ongoing Commitment and Monitoring
The three-year agreement will be reviewed through a dedicated Working Group to ensure its effectiveness and sustained impact. Earlier in 2025, ISWAN also collaborated with the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) to launch a helpline tackling maritime corruption in India, further broadening its support for Indian seafarers.
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Source: safety4sea
