The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), India, and the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework of cooperation to enhance the welfare, training, safety, and wellbeing of Indian seafarers and their families through collaborative initiatives.
This partnership reinforces the shared commitment of both organizations to support Indian seafarers and their families through dedicated outreach, education, and crisis response mechanisms
Key areas of collaboration under the MoU include:
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- Awareness and Induction Training for cadets and ratings through ISWAN’s Seafarers’ Education and Awareness Sessions (SEAS) in DG Shipping-approved Maritime Training Institutes.
- Promotion of Port Welfare Committees under MLC 2006 to improve port-level support for visiting seafarers in Indian ports.
- Implementation of ISWAN’s Family Outreach Programme, which provides guidance and emotional support to the families of seafarers and helps to improve communication strategies which encourage to build a stronger and healthy relationship.
- Joint promotion of ISWAN’s ‘Safe at sea…it takes all of us!’ campaign to improve gender safety Integration of ISWAN ’s 24/7 multilingual Seafarer-help helpline within DG Shipping’s upcoming grievance redressal platform.ISWAN is prepared and will endeavor to facilitate help
- Organization of joint regional events to raise awareness on mental health, safety, and well-being in the maritime sector.
This landmark MoU brings together regulatory and welfare expertise to deliver coordinated support for seafarers,
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