Sailors’ Society has licensed a version of its Chapplaincy smartphone technology to ICMA, enabling all 28 members to share the digital platform transforming port to port welfare.
The ‘Ship Visitor’ app will enable maritime chaplaincy organizations across the world to deliver improved services to seafarers and to better measure the impact of their work.
Revd. Richard Kilgour, general secretary of ICMA, said, “ICMA is mindful of the immense importance of this development, which strengthens our international collaborative relationships as seafarer societies. Brought about by Sailors’ Society, this initiative will empower those in front line ministry to bring immense benefit for the well-being of seafarers and is warmly welcomed by our 28 member organizations operating seafarer ministry in ports worldwide.”
Developed with the support of MarineTraffic, the ‘Ship Visitor’ app enables real-time activity reporting and maintains a history of ship visits and support provided to seafarers. Data can then be accessed by chaplains in other ports and, subject to confidentiality and data protection policies, can be used to provide ongoing care and assistance as ship and crew continue their voyage.
The ’Ship Visitor’ app is enabled by access to global ship tracking data from MarineTraffic, which helps chaplains see which vessels are in port and those due to arrive. The result is more effective use of time and improved coordination with other welfare organizations.
In addition to producing the ‘Ship Visitor’ app, Sailors’ Society is currently developing a version for seafarers, planned for release in Spring 2016, which will enable seafarers to make contact in advance of arrival at port in order to access welfare services.