Its 2020-21 annual review revealed the organisation’s outstanding performance in helping seafarers
ISWAN received over 20,000 calls and messages from seafarers between April 2020 – March 2021, and assisted in repatriating over 1,800 seafarers. It also administered US$272,000 in grants to those in desperate need – just to name a few acts of kindness.
Mark of a welfare organisation
Taking stock of everything in the last financial year, ISWAN has every reason to be proud of its achievements. Its 2020-21 annual review showed almost a quarter of the cases handled by ISWAN involved financial or debt issues as seafarers worldwide were unable to secure work.
The organisation collaborated closely with more than 15 Indian missions to help seafarers and families with infant children board the Vande Bharat flights home, and aided more than 4,200 seafarers with the repatriation process. ISWAN also helped a total of 1,874 seafarers return home, of which 1,085 were in the United Kingdom. For the seafarers unable to return home after signing off their ships in the Philippines, ISWAN arranged for daily food deliveries to over 2,000 seafarers. The welfare organisation also coordinated with the Apostleship of the Sea Manila to assist 500 seafarers’ families and distribute vouchers.
Andy Winbow, Chair of the Board of Trustee at ISWAN noted, “Looking back over that period, it is amazing to recall all that had happened.” Simon Grainge, Chief Executive Officer of ISWAN remarked, “In a year dominated by the pandemic, we adapted well to the new working environment and enthusiastically stepped up to meet the increased demands from seafarers as they struggled with their own challenges.
“However, none of these were achieved alone. ISWAN is enormously grateful for the sustained commitment of its funders who enabled our work to continue, and our colleagues in the other maritime welfare organisations that collaborated with us. The pandemic has yet to run its course and seafarers are still being asked to go above and beyond the call of duty. ISWAN will do the same by supporting them in the best way we can.”
Crewing Online News Team
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