Debates to Emphasize Seafarers’ Welfare

 

Four benefiting charities of London International Shipping Week (LISW15) have collaborated to put on an afternoon of debate on the latest issues in maritime welfare, to take place during the week-long program of industry events. 

 

Apostleship of the Sea, Mission to Seafarers, Sailors’ Society and Seafarers UK will each chair a panel debate on September 8, with the express aim of raising awareness of seafarers’ rights during LISW15.

 

Clay Maitland, Managing Partner of the Marshall Islands Ship Registry, who is giving the opening speech at the event, said, “Lip service is all very nice, but the industry must do much more to improve the quality of life and physical well-being, of all seafarers.”

 

Panelists on the day will include Grahaeme Henderson of Shell; Per Gullestrup of International Seafarers’ Welfare Assistance Network; Mark Dickinson of Nautilus International; Bruce Hailey of Salvus Law Ltd; David Hammond of Human Rights at Sea; Rev Roger Stone of Apostleship of the Sea; Rod Johnson, former Chief Coastguard, and more.

 

Nigel Shattock, Director of Fundraising & Communications at Seafarers UK, said, “We hope that by holding this event our charities might be able to reinforce collectively to those working in international commercial shipping that ultimately it is the seafarer upon which the sector relies. LISW has a very busy program of events, but we would encourage everyone who wishes to gain a better understanding of some of the latest issues affecting seafarers, and the commercial impact that these may be having, to come along to one or more of our debates on the day.”