Government officials, such as coastguard, port state and health inspectors are encouraged to join welfare boards at local, regional and national level. Port Visitor enables officials to connect with all aspects of the maritime sector and local port communities.
Welfare boards regularly review welfare provisions and can assist government with ILO reporting. Being a signatory of MLC, 2006 is not a prerequisite of the Port Visitor programme. Where applicable, governments can nominate Seafarers’ Welfare Ambassadors to provide key port welfare information to visiting seafarers.
The International Labour Organisation’s Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (‘MLC 2006’) sets out seafarers’ rights to decent conditions of work and highlights the important role that welfare boards can play.
Also known as the Seafarers’ Bill of Rights, MLC 2006 recognises that seafarers are professionals and they are the lifeblood of the global economy, moving goods around the world to meet the needs of consumers and businesses. In fact, 90% of all goods are transported by sea. It is the most economic and environmentally friendly form of transportation, and highlights the crucial role of men and women who live and work at sea.
Port Visitor supports front line welfare providers, helps port communities review and report on services, collates feedback and ultimately provides seafarers with the information necessary to enhance their quality of life
Seafarers play a vital role in all our lives and they deserve recognition and support when they come into port. The ship is their home as well as their workplace and when in port they need a connection to their families, supplies, and a welcome break from being at sea. This is why we need to establish welfare boards in trade ports around the world. By doing so, we can change the face of seafaring for the better by ensuring good access to welfare facilities when seafarers and fishers are able to come ashore.
Welfare boards are essential to improving seafarer welfare globally and their formation is encouraged by the ILO. If you don’t already have a Seafarers’ Welfare Committee in port then bringing the maritime community together to form a Welfare Board or Port Welfare Committee is one of the best ways to improve the wellbeing of seafarers. So, join us and be part of a global welfare movement and change the face of seafaring for good.
You can easily create a free account to get started. Creating an account will allow you to see inside the world of port based welfare services and it is the first step towards the positive outcomes that the United Nations conventions make possible.