Global maritime charity Sailors' Society has signed a deal with top insurer NorthStandard to roll out its innovative Sea Mate training to the P&I club's members, thus paving the way for a sea change in seafarer care with an increase in the number of Wellbeing Officers on board ships.
Sea Mate is an interactive training programme that equips seafarers with a specialist set of skills.
They serve as key support figures, providing crew members with someone to talk to – someone trained in wellbeing expertise and directly connected to Sailors’ Society’s crisis response team for immediate assistance when needed.
Support continues beyond the training with ongoing mentorship and a strong peer network, it stated.
Through NorthStandard's My Mind Matters at Sea initiative, its members are now eligible for one free Sea Mate course each year for up to 16 seafarers and discounted rates for additional courses.
Sailors' Society CEO Sara Baade said: "This generous partnership with NorthStandard could see thousands of new Wellbeing Officers on board ships across the world, trained to give frontline help and support to fellow crewmates."
"Our Sea Mate training has been hugely popular with shipping companies who know that seafarers' wellbeing directly affects the safety of their colleagues, the cargo and the ship. We are looking forward to NorthStandard members benefitting from this programme and applaud NorthStandard for its commitment to crew wellbeing," she noted.
On Sea Mate and the partnership, Colin Gilespie, Global Head of Loss Prevention at NorthStandard said: "We are pleased to be partnering with Sailors’ Society to deliver Sea Mate and further strengthen the support available to seafarers."
"Providing practical, accessible training that helps crews recognise and respond to wellbeing challenges is vital in today’s operating environment," he stated.
"At NorthStandard, we are committed to helping our Members support their crew, recognising that strong wellbeing is fundamental to efficient operations. Through this programme, we are giving Members further tools to build more resilient crews and safer vessels," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
