With many former seafarers part of today’s team at Lubmarine, we are delighted to be supporting this year’s International Day of the Seafarer through our association with and support of ISWAN (International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network).
The theme of this year’s International Day of the Seafarer - which is organized by the IMO – focuses on seafarers' contribution to protecting the marine environment, in line with the World Maritime theme “MARPOL at 50 – our commitment goes on”.
In conjunction, ISWAN is using International Day in announcing the results of its Reels Challenge Competition – which invited all seafarers and yacht crew to post a video of between 30 and 90 seconds under the theme of #SeasTheMoment – capturing where they are and what they are doing.
The top 5 videos have been posted on ISWAN’s Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct5-ZK1JGNG/.
The Reels Challenge is part of ISWAN’s work to promote and support the welfare of seafarers globally including operating a 24-hour helpline, as a direct service for seafarers alongside a number of other projects and campaigns in support of seafarers' welfare.
In 2022 ISWAN assisted over 13,600 seafarers and their families of 94 different nationalities around the world. Over US $450,000 was awarded to seafarers and their families in need by the relief funds administered by ISWAN.
“As there are quite a number of the team here who were active seafarers before joining Lubmarine, we hold the invaluable and vital work of ISWAN close to our hearts,” said Lubmarine Marketing Director Serge Dal Farra.
“International Day of the Seafarer is a great opportunity to recognize the invaluable role that seafarers play in global trade – being responsible for the safe movement of around 90% of the World’s goods – in what are often difficult working conditions, with long periods away from family and friends with all too often limited access to regular communication with them. The work that ISWAN does in offering a lifeline for those in need – from seafarers themselves to their families is something we are very proud to support,” added Serge.
ISWAN has also used Day of the Seafarer to publish its findings on the impact of decarbonization on seafarers and their contribution to protecting the marine environment.