ISWAN International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network 

The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) is an international not-for-profit maritime organisation which works to improve the lives of seafarers and their families with services, resources, strategies and advocacy. They support seafarers and their families around the world with their free helpline services, educational resources, relief funds and humanitarian support. They also work to drive change within the maritime sector for better health and wellbeing amongst seafarers, using data from their helplines to identify areas of need and inform new projects and research. 

SMT became members of ISWAN during 2024. Whilst SMT seafarers already enjoy a range of resources via SMT, we are impressed with the range of information and help available from ISWAN. In particular their multi-lingual helpline is a resource that may be useful to seafarers wherever they work. Additionally, they publish many guides, often in various languages about topics such as fitness, food safety, bullying and harassment, mental wellbeing and safe travel. 

We are looking forward to our cooperation with ISWAN and hope that SMT’s membership will benefit our own seafarers and will allow ISWAN to continue their work benefiting seafarers wherever they may be.