The 2015 International Seafarers' Welfare Awards – showcasing excellence in the provision of seafarers' welfare - will take place on 9th June at the International Maritime Organisation in London.

The shortlists for the awards have been announced by the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN):

Shipping Company of the Year (sponsored by Garrets): AET Ship Management, Anglo Eastern Ship Management, Eidesvik, Hamburg SUD, JO TANKERS and Stolt Tankers

Port of the Year: Brunsbuttel Ports (Germany), Halifax (Canada), South Carolina Ports Authority (USA), Port of Sydney and Botany (Australia) and Ulsan Port (Korea)

Seafarer Centre of the Year (sponsored by Wrist Ship Supply): Seafarers' Center of Beaumont (USA), Seafarer Centre Bremerhaven (Germany), Duckdalben International Seamen's Club (Germany), MtS Newcastle (Australia) and Odessa Seamen's Home (Ukraine)

The Dr Dierk Lindemann Welfare Personality of the Year (sponsored by the International Chamber of Shipping):
Individuals: Chirag Bahri (India), Joseph Chacko (India), Sharon Emerson (USA), Maike Puchert (Germany) and Gary South (Australia)
Organisations: Associated Marine Officers and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP),
Hunterlink Recovery Services (Australia), National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) and Trinity House (UK)

The Seafarer Centre of the Year, Port of The Year and Shipping Company of the Year were all nominated directly by seafarers. The award for the Dr Dierk Lindemann Welfare Personality of the Year is nominated by seafarers, welfare organisations or self-nominated.

This year the Dr Dierk Lindemann Welfare Personality of the Year has been split into two categories – one for individuals and one for organisations. The award is named after Dr Dierk Lindemann who was instrumental in the adoption of the MLC in 2006 serving as Managing Director of the German Ship owners' Association and Ship owners' Group Spokesperson at the ILO.

The winners will be announced at a high profile awards ceremony hosted by the International Maritime Organisation in London on 9th June 2015. The Secretary General of the IMO, Mr Koji Sekimizu, will present the awards.

Roger Harris, ISWAN Executive Director, said: "These awards are about celebrating the work of those companies, organisations, and individuals that go the extra mile to ensure the health and well-being of seafarers. We are honoured to be holding the awards event at the International Maritime Organisation in June."

The judging panel for the awards is Mr Masamichi Morooka President of the International Shipping Federation and International Chamber of Shipping; Steve Cotton General Secretary the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF); Fr Bruno Ciceri, Chairman of the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) and Rose George, author of the award winning 'Deep Sea and Foreign Going: Inside Shipping, the Invisible Industry that Brings You 90% of Everything'.

The Awards are generously funded by the ITF Seafarers' Trust and the headline sponsor is Inmarsat. The awards' media sponsor is Crewtoo.

Further information about the awards can be found at www.seafarerswelfareawards.org