Australian National Seafarers Welfare Board Joins ISWAN

The National Seafarer Welfare Board for Australia, the Australian Seafarers Welfare Council (ASWC), has joined the International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network. This brings the number of national seafarers' welfare boards who are members of ISWAN to eight.

The Maritime Labour Convention that came into force in August 2013 encourages the establishment of national seafarer welfare boards and port welfare committees to enhance and co-ordinate welfare services and facilities for visiting seafarers.

Roger Harris, Executive Director of ISWAN, said "we are very pleased to have the Australian Seafarers Welfare Council as a member of ISWAN. Australia ratified the MLC in 2011 and there are a range of welfare facilities in a number of Australian ports. We are looking forward to working with ASWC for the benefit of visiting seafarers."

Allan Schwartz of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, that is responsible for the ASWC, said "membership of ISWAN gives us access to a network of organisation and individuals involved in the welfare of seafarers all over the world. We intend to use the shared knowledge and experience to further develop seafarers' welfare in Australia."

ISWAN is an international NGO that promotes the welfare of seafarers' welfare worldwide. It is a membership organisation. NGO's, companies, and government bodies that are involved in seafarers' welfare can join ISWAN.