Revamped Ship Welfare Visitors Course
The course is designed to provide an overview of shipping and seafarers’ welfare organisations. This includes general maritime industry custom and practice, shipboard protocols, security, health and safety, ship visiting goals and elements of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
About the course
Course Aim
Developed for the wide network of maritime charity staff and volunteers supporting seafarers—from port chaplains to frontline welfare teams—the Ship Welfare Visitor Course provides essential grounding in safe, respectful, and effective ship visiting. The newly updated course places enhanced emphasis on the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (Seafarers’ Bill of Rights) and the C188 Work in Fishing Convention, alongside expanded coverage of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
Designed for all employees and volunteers of Member maritime charities who visit seafarers on-board ships or operate within port environments, the course is equally valuable for Port Chaplains as for volunteers driving local Seafarer Centre minibuses. It includes essential topics such as basic health and safety, shipboard and port management structures, ship routines and protocols, seafarer welfare issues, and cultural considerations.
Originally launched online in February 2017 and developed in partnership with NAMMA (North American Maritime Ministry Association), the course is approved by ICMA (International Christian Maritime Association) and can be completed at the learner’s own pace from home. Upon successful completion, participants receive a photographic ID card endorsed by their organisation—a credential widely recognised by port authorities and ship officers.
Our course has now been comprehensively updated to reflect current legislation, industry standards and best practice, ensuring that ship visitors are equipped with the most relevant, up‑to‑date knowledge to support seafarers safely and effectively.
Course Objectives
To equip ship visitors with a full appreciation of protocol, personal safety and security issues relating to port facilities.
Course Eligibility
This course is only open to those delegates who will be ship visiting on behalf of one of the ship visiting organisations eg Stella Maris, Mission to Seafarers, Sailors Society etc.
Course Registration
Eligible candidates should visit www.shipwelfarevisitor.com to register for the course. During the registration process you will be asked to name and provide contact details of your ‘Supervisor’ who must be someone in your organisation who can verify your credentials. You will also be asked to select your ‘Primary Affiliation’ which would be the parent organisation under which you will be ship visiting. Once your application has been approved by your organisation log in details will be emailed to you and you may begin the course. When you have completed the course, your Supervisor will be asked to verify that all modules have been successfully completed. An industry recognised Ship Welfare Visitor I.D Card will be issued and sent to you by post.
For further information please contact Helen on 02380 337799 or email Helen@mnwb.org.uk