“New level” was the theme for the annual union week organised at the end of October by the Marine Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine (MTWTU). Ukraine occupies the fourth position in the world for countries supplying maritime labour. The union has 75,000 members, including 45,000 Ukrainian seafarers.
While the mental health of seafarers is currently a major concern, there has been limited research into this issue. Now a unique study by Yale University, commissioned by the ITF seafarers' section and funded though the ITF Seafarers' Trust, aims to get a picture of seafarers' mental health.
ISWAN (International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network) has extended its support for seafarers concerned about their mental health and wellbeing with the publication of a support guide in a range of languages.
Canada has responded to a long-standing campaign by the country’s seafaring unions. The government has agreed that Canadian seafarers will have the first right to be employed in any available maritime jobs on vessels from all flag states working in Canadian waters.
The ITF has come to the aid of a seafarer’s bereaved family at a time when they needed maximum support.
Nelson Jack Pereira, a 50-year-old Indian national, was a fitter on the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-flagged Folk Elegant. On 11 March 2018, he suffered a massive cardiac arrest while working on board the ship.
