Thank you for your interest in volunteering as a Seafarers’ Welfare Ambassador (SWA) in these challenging times. As front line welfare providers, this vital (but not onerous!) role ensures that key information about the services you provide are shared with the maritime sector and accessible to seafarers during their often limited time in port.
SWAs play a key role in the maritime community, possess an in-depth knowledge of the port and local area, as well as port welfare facilities. Using their expertise and experience, SWAs ensure that seafarers’ welfare information is kept up to date for their port and, where necessary, help evaluate seafarers’ welfare needs in accordance with ILO MLC, 2006. Ideally, the role of SWA would be carried out by experienced Port Chaplains, Centre Managers and trained Ship Welfare Visitors.
After signing up to Port Visitor, simply add the SWA role to your user profile.
Any member of the maritime community with a vested interest in the welfare of seafarers in port can apply to become a Seafarer Welfare Ambassador.
No. This is a part time voluntary role and as such role holders are giving their time freely.
It could be as little as a few hours a month or as much as you feel you are able to commit. All we ask is that you focus on the priority activities of furnishing the IPWP programme with welfare information about your port and assist in the establishment of a welfare board.
If you want more information about the role, you can contact the IPWP team by clicking here.
That’s up to you! We would welcome your participation in the welfare board itself, and we would value having someone local to ensure that the welfare information we hold is kept up to date.
Simply create an account on the Port Visitor platform (if you haven’t already done so) and go to your user profile. In the Roles section, click on the ‘Additional Roles’ button and select Seafarer Welfare Ambassador. Then click Request Role. Your request will be reviewed by our team and you will be notified of the outcome. We may contact you during the approval process to request details a reference.
If you care about our industry and the 1.6m seafarers then here is your opportunity to get involved and support our key workers who make global transportation operate effectively.
Creating an account and becoming a Seafarer Welfare Ambassador will allow you to see inside the world of seafarer welfare in ports. It is the first step towards the positive outcomes that the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 strives to make possible and we would welcome you help.