The following is text of a news release from the ITF Seafarers’ Trust:
(LONDON) — The ITF Seafarers’ Trust and the World Maritime University have announced a new seafarer welfare training program designed to equip maritime professionals with key skills and knowledge to support the welfare of seafarers.
The Maritime Welfare (MARI-WEL) Professional Development Program has been announced Moday in honor of the Day of the Seafarer, which this year focuses on "seafarers’ well-being." Created in partnership by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and the World Maritime University, MARI-WEL is the first program of its kind to deliver a comprehensive overview of the topics and issues that relate to seafarer welfare.
MARI-WEL will be delivered as a distance learning course via an innovative online portal consisting of a series of videos, lectures, and activities – enabling participants to follow the program from anywhere in the world. Covering three separate modules, the program provides participants with flexibility to follow the course at their own speed, and offline if need be.
Led by world-leading experts in the field of seafarer rights, regulations, and welfare issues, the three modules cover the following areas:
Module 1: international regulations, conventions, codes, and seafarers’ rights
Module 2: psycho-social and occupational health relating to seafarers
Module 3: crew and resource management and land-based seafarer welfare
MARI-WEL is designed to meet the needs of anyone who works with or interacts with seafarers, both onboard and onshore. This includes ship management companies, crewing agencies, port chaplains, and welfare providers.
The idea for the course originated with the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, a United Kingdom charity working internationally to advance the well-being of seafarers, and their families worldwide. Commenting on the launch of MARI-WEL, Dave Heindel, chairman of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, said, “Seafarers’ welfare is a critical issue for every organization in the shipping industry and should be treated as an essential element of the professional training and development for anyone who works with seafarers. The purpose of MARI-WEL is to set a new professional standard that will increase the level of awareness of welfare issues across the industry.”
Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President of the World Maritime University, said, “MARI-WEL is the first program of its kind to take such a comprehensive look at seafarers’ welfare. It is an important step in supporting the work of the IMO, the International Labour Organization, the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and all other stakeholders focused on the welfare of seafarers.”
The first MARI-WEL program will commence on Aug. 1. A limited number of scholarships will be available as well as potential discounts for multiple participants from the same organization and/or applicants from smaller welfare organizations and charities. For a preview of the MARI-WEL program and to register your interest, visit http://mariwel.wmu.se.
