The first official National Port Welfare Forum has been held, bringing together chairs from Port Welfare Committees (PWCs) across the UK.
This new national platform marks a significant step forward in boosting support for seafarers by improving communication, collaboration, and coordination between regions and national bodies.
The forum has been created to provide a space for regional chairs to share insights, raise common concerns, and learn from one another. Crucially, it aims to connect the work of local committees with the National Seafarers’ Welfare Board, helping to ensure that seafarer welfare services remain responsive, relevant, and representative of ports across all nations of the UK.
By meeting regularly, members will be able to develop shared approaches to challenges and feed into broader discussions around the future of seafarer welfare.
Key issues discussed at the inaugural meeting included the need for sustainable funding for seafarer welfare—particularly through a potential national levy—alongside the importance of improving communication between Port Welfare Committees and government bodies. Members explored ways to better include devolved nations in national conversations, ensure consistency in welfare provision across regions, and address ongoing concerns such as mental health support and challenges faced by female seafarers.
The creation of the forum reflects the ongoing commitment of the maritime community to work together in improving conditions for those who spend their lives at sea. It acknowledges that, while ports and regions may face different challenges, the core goal remains the same: to ensure that every seafarer arriving in the UK is met with a high standard of care and support.
The forum will meet three times a year, at the end of each term of PWC meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for July 14th.
Read more about our PWCs HERE
