The ITF Seafarers’ Trust has released the main findings of its Port-Based Welfare Services Survey 2016, in which a total of 957 seafarers took part.

Access to shore-based welfare facilities is a key component under the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 (Regulation 4.4). The objectives of the survey included to document the frequency of service use by seafarers and measure trends between 1996, 2006 and 2016 results. The survey also aimed to understand the importance, priorities and concerns of seafarers as to the provision of port-based welfare services, as well as any associations between respondents’ age, rank and type of ship.

The Summary Report summarises the survey’s findings along with the key conclusions drawn on internet access, access to shore leave, welfare workers and Seamen’s Clubs.

Roger Harris, Executive Director of ISWAN, said: “ISWAN welcomes this study which gives us valuable insight into the importance of port-based welfare services to seafarers. The results reaffirm the vital need for strong partnerships across the shipping industry to ensure the highest quality services for seafarers in port. This is a key aim of ISWAN’s International Port Welfare Partnership Programme (IPWP) which will be formally launched in September 2017.

“This Survey from the Seafarers’ Trust and a recent study on Port Levies systems in North America by NAMMA help to show the areas which need most attention from projects such as the IPWP.”

The full report can be downloaded here.