Heightened security in all ports globally in response to terrorist activity and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code raised the need for formal training and accreditation of seafarers’ welfare personnel seeking access to ships in port. 

Initially discussed at the 2005 ICSW Annual General Meeting, the three proposed initiatives in this area were prioritised during 2005/2006, with the international application of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board’s Ship Welfare Visitor Course (SWVC) accorded the highest priority. 

During 2006/2007 an ITF Seafarers’ Trust funded pilot programme took place that included international trial of the SWVC course in Australia, India and Singapore, followed by the development and trial of an SWVC instructor’s course, all administered by the ICSW and Merchant Navy Welfare Board (the latter waiving its administration fee).  The success of the pilot courses led to funding being secured for the first two years of a four-year international rollout that will see the training of 5000 welfare workers and volunteers plus 50 to 60 instructors.

Click here to find out more about the SWVC

Basic SWVCs have been held in a variety of locations including Cape Town, Durban, Gibraltar, Rotterdam, San Diego, San Pedro (Ivory Coast), Lagos, Tasmania, Melbourne, Hong kong, Panama, Barcelona, Port Kembla, Goa, Hamburg, New Orleans, Savannah, Kolkata and Singapore .

Planned courses for 2010 include:

London, UK

Pascagoula, Ms, USA

Port Hedland, Australia

Port Savannah, Georgia, USA

To arrange or attend a course in your Port please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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