About Us

As the umbrella charity for the UK Merchant Navy and fishing fleets, Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) supports and promotes co-operation between organisations that provide welfare services to merchant seafarers, fishermen and their dependents.

The Board has over forty Constituent member charities and maintains sixteen Port Welfare Committees covering all UK ports and Gibraltar, organises maritime charity conferences, working groups and also provides support for the Falkland Islands.

The MNWB Council of Management, consisting of its Directors & Trustees, acts as the National Seafarers’ Welfare Board for the United Kingdom. The Council is made up of an equal number of representatives from Ship owners (UK Chamber of Shipping), Unions (Nautilus International and RMT), maritime charities and specialist advisors. Council meetings are observed by the UK Government represented by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Staff Council Constituent Members Patron Annual Reports Full History

The key objectives of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board are to:

Help improve the effectiveness of all those charities caring for merchant seafarers, fishermen and their dependants and this is done irrespective of nationality, religion or ethnic background.
Strive to ensure that all welfare needs are met through the most effective deployment of resources.
Facilitate the work of Constituent organisations through the provision of grants and specialist support services.
Provide a dedicated welfare support and referral service for UK seafarers and their dependants.
Manage and support Port Welfare Committees to develop local welfare services.
Encourage and enable closer collaboration amongst both Constituent organisations and Port Welfare Committees.
Represent and raise awareness of seafarers’ welfare issues at national level.

N.B. The wording shown above summarises the formal Objects, a copy of which may be obtained from the Chief Executive.

Articles of Association

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Strategy Document

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