ICSW website

This is the website for the ICSW and what they are doing to help all seafarers worldwide.
There Link
http://www.seafarerswelfare.org/home/what-are-we.html


Charity Objects & Significant Activities Undertaken in Relation to
Objects
The objects of the ICSW as laid down in the Memorandum of Association are ‘to
promote the relief of need, hardship or distress amongst seafarers of all nationalities,
races, colours and creeds’. In pursuit of these objects the ICSW will:
a. Promote and foster on an international basis the provision of welfare services at
sea and ashore for seafarers irrespective of nationality, race, colours, creed or
gender;
b. Identify the need for facilities and services such as clubs, advisory centres,
welfare officers, sporting events and sport facilities, entertainment and cultural
provisions for seafarers visiting ports to be provided in accordance with ILO
instruments and with particular reference to countries where welfare facilities do
not currently exist;
c. Make recommendations concerning the welfare needs identified including advice
as to the best use of available resources;
d. Provide advice and assistance to international, national, municipal and port
authorities and agencies, ship owners, seafarers, welfare organisations and
other interested bodies, including advice on the practical implementation of the
ILO instruments concerning seafarers' welfare;
e. Encourage and promote enhanced awareness of the welfare needs of seafarers
when away from home, especially among Port State governments;
f. Establish and maintain close working relationships with the ILO and, in
particular, to assist the ILO regarding the worldwide realisation of the objectives
of the ILO instruments concerning seafarers' welfare.
How do we do it?
Projects – activities undertaken on behalf of ICSW members, which are of direct
benefit to seafarers and that no other agency has the skills, resources or mandate to
do. Projects are executed in a timely, efficient and cost effective manner with
quantifiable deliverables, overseen by a steering group composed of ICSW members
reporting to the Board of Trustees. Work is undertaken by the ICSW Secretariat, an
individual ICSW member, a group of ICSW members or an external consultant
contracted to the ICSW. Project activity includes:
a. International Sport for Seafarers (ISS) – open to all seafarers;
b. Seafarers’ Health Information Programme (SHIP) – products distributed
free through nodal ports;
c. Twinning Centres Programme – open to all seafarers’ centres;
d. Training of welfare workers to enhance ship visiting – open to all ship visitors;
e. Provision of information relating to the seafarers’ welfare provisions of the
Maritime Labour Convention 2006 – available to all seafarers and welfare
workers.
Seminars – taking place every 18 months to two years these events are designed to
raise awareness of seafarers’ welfare issues in a particular maritime region or subregion.
Seminars are requirement driven, with target regions and issues being
proposed by ICSW members and welfare personnel working in a region. Issues are
refined by a questionnaire distributed throughout target regions. The ICSW facilitates
discussion between regional/national representatives of all maritime and government
agencies, with input from international bodies with relevant expertise in the issues
being discussed. Seminars are tailored to result in a structured programme of work
specifically designed to address and resolve issues raised during the seminar. Work
is undertaken by agencies attending the seminar working in close cooperation with
each other and the ICSW. These Regional Seafarers’ Welfare Development
Programmes are funded by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and monitored/supported by the
ICSW. Seminar activity during the period included preparations for and execution of
the South East Asia Regional Seafarers’ Welfare seminar (September 2007,
Singapore).
Regional Seafarers’ Welfare Development Programmes – designed to address
specific issues raised at ICSW seminars in order to achieve a minimum benchmark
level of seafarers’ welfare throughout a particular region, linking with other regions to
achieve a global minimum standard, on which particular issue related initiatives can
be built through project activity. Regional programmes include:
a. South Asia;
b. South East Asia (commenced June 2008 after preparation work October 2007
to May 2008).
New Projects
a. Seafarers' Welfare in the 21st century – A Model Template
b. Recreation & Fitness at Sea
c. Seafarers’ Welfare Portal