But whatever threats, counter threats and decisions are made at the highest level, volatility and anxiety have been a constant for seafarers for weeks.
We are there for crews trapped with supplies of food and water running low and no sense of when they may be able to continue their journeys.
And we are beside their loved ones back home who are frantic with worry.
One family we are supporting lost their 25-year-old son and brother in a missile attack on the very first night of this conflict.
He had been a seafarer for just two years and was on shift in the engine room when his ship was hit.
Read their story and support our work through our latest appeal here.
And our grateful thanks go to Swire Shipping who have helped us mark the 10th anniversary of our CRN and made a donation in recognition of the vital work we do to support seafarers and their families 24/7 and 365 days of the year, wherever they are and whenever they need us.
And welfare support, particularly in a crisis, is no longer confined to port; it travels with the ship. Our innovative Ship Connect service sees regular wellness check-in calls scheduled with crews while they are at sea.
In 2025, our Ship Connect team reached 3,241 seafarers, a 283 per cent increase on the previous year. This means more issues are being spotted in the initial stages, where they can be managed successfully without any major disruptions to operations.
Find out how you can use Ship Connect on your vessels here.
Highlighting ‘the first digital seafarer generation’
Revealing both the positives and negatives of increased connectivity at sea and the growing reliance on peer support by the next generation of maritime, we have published our 2025/26 Cadet Report – ‘The first digital seafarer generation’.
Sponsored by Inmarsat, the report captures the voices of cadets, ratings and trainees from 30 countries and draws on insights gathered from more than 9,000 Gen Z seafarers who attended our global 2025 Wellness at Sea Conferences.
This unique data offers the maritime industry an unparalleled look into the experiences, pressures and aspirations of its future workforce and provides comprehensive insight into three key themes shaping maritime’s newest recruits – digital life and social pressure, mental health and trauma at sea, and confidence in safety and reporting systems.
Sailors’ Society CEO, Sara Baade, said the findings show that the maritime workforce is entering a new era.
“This report clearly shows that the next generation of seafarers is not simply joining the industry – it is reshaping it.
“Today’s cadets are digitally connected, emotionally aware and deeply committed to meaningful careers at sea. But they are also navigating pressures that previous generations never faced, from online comparison and social media expectations to new mental health challenges.”
The report reveals:
- Around 70 per cent of the next generation of seafarers spend more than three hours online every day.
- 83 per cent of the cadets, ratings and trainees polled from China and 78 per cent of those from South East Asia reported feeling pressure to appear happy or successful online.
- More than half of UK, European and South East Asian respondents said they had experienced or witnessed cyberbullying or negative behaviour online.
- While technology allows seafarers to stay in close contact with family and friends, this generation increasingly relies on peers for wellbeing support, with peer groups emerging as one of the most trusted sources of help.
We are honoured to be nominated for the Crew Welfare Non-Profit Organisation Award
We have been nominated for our Sea Mate programme, which trains crew members as Wellbeing Officers and crisis responders. Sea Mate equips these officers with the skills to implement wellbeing initiatives on board, providing basic counselling and guidance to fellow crew members.
As part of our partnership with ITF Seafarers Trust, we have been training cadets, ratings and trainees in Africa’s maritime schools.
Africa is increasingly recognised as the next major recruitment destination for the maritime industry. As global crewing dynamics evolve, the continent is emerging as a key source of skilled, motivated, and well-trained maritime professionals.
Our Head of Wellness, Johan Smith, visited the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute, where 80 students completed the programme.
In addition, the Institute has embraced our awareness campaign materials to strengthen ongoing student support structures.
Meanwhile, Danie Taljard, from our Wellness Support Team, was at the Ethiopian Maritime Training Institute (EMTI), part of Bahr Dar University.
The training coincided with a historic and celebratory moment for EMTI – the graduation of the largest cohort from the Post-Graduate Programme in Marine Engineering, including the first-ever group of 27 female cadets.
Since October 2025, 438 students here have received our Wellness at Sea training, with further training scheduled.
Sailors’ Society signs MOU with National Union of Seafarers, Sri Lanka
We had a wonderful week in Sri Lanka, meeting new partners and cementing relationships for promoting our Circle of Care.
We are honoured to have signed a groundbreaking MOU with the National Union of Seafarers, Sri Lanka. This sees the NUSS support and promote our Wellness at Sea programme among seafarers, cadets and ratings and our family welfare and wellness programmes to their loved ones who remain ashore.
The MOU was signed by our CEO Sara Baade and Ranjan Perera from the NUSS in front of the Director General of the Merchant Shipping Secretariat in Sri Lanka, Asanga Deshapriya, and our virtual support representative in India, Manoj Joy.
Sara and Manoj then went on a whistlestop tour of this beautiful island country – spending time at Southern Maritime Training Institute SMTI, the CMA CGM group, Seaspan Crew Management India Private Limited, Ceyline Shipping Ltd, Dolphin Ship Management and MSTI Maritime Academy.
We were also pleased to be invited to meet the team at Centrum Marine Consultancy Pvt Ltd. as guests of their MD, Kalinga De Silva.
And the award goes to … Our Head of Wellness, Johan Smith, has been awarded the prestigious Kashti Vibhushan Award for Maritime Welfare and Social Service by a jury of industry leaders.
Part of the annual Kashti Awards, held in New Delhi, this accolade recognises individuals for talent, leadership and success in maritime.
Johan says: “I am deeply honoured and genuinely humbled to receive the Kashti Vibhushan Award. This recognition is not just personal — it reflects the collective commitment of so many colleagues, partners and seafarers who believe that wellbeing, dignity and care at sea truly matter.”
We are honoured to once again be Posidonia’s Supported Charity at this prestigious global shipping exhibition.
Our team will be on the ground the whole week and would be delighted to meet up with you. Get in touch at partnerships@sailors-
Alongside the main conference, the week also hosts the Posidonia Games, which provide the ideal opportunity to raise funds for our vital work with seafarers and their families.
The Games include the hugely popular 5×5 Posidonia Shipsoccer Tournament and the mass participation Posidonia Running Event, where runners from all over the globe take to the streets of Piraeus.
If you would like to raise funds for Sailors’ Society in any of these events, please contact us at partnerships@sailors-
Find out more about Posidonia 2026 +
Saudi Maritime Awards
Sailors’ Society is a supporting partner of the Saudi Maritime Awards, which celebrate key figures, achievements and performance in the industry. Nominations are now open.
Singapore Maritime Forum
We have also been named a supporting organisation for the 8th Annual Capital Link Singapore Maritime Forum on April 20. The Forum highlights Singapore’s pivotal role as a gateway to Asia and a key player in the global shipping markets.
Our Sea Mate programme has proved hugely popular within the industry with some 400 Wellbeing Officers now providing immediate support to crewmates on board.
With comprehensive training from the charity’s experienced global team, they offer basic counselling and guidance to fellow seafarers facing personal or professional challenges and can act as a crisis responder during emergencies.
Find out more about Sea Mate:
We joined with seafarers and companies across the industry to celebrate Pride in Maritime Day, which aims to promote a more inclusive, diverse, and supportive environment within the maritime sector for LGBTQ+ seafarers and shore-based staff. And we are proud to help with this through our LGBTQ+ Peer-to-Peer Support Groups.
These groups, which bring together seafarers from 23 countries, offer a confidential welcoming space where members can connect, share experiences, and support one another.
But they also provide a platform for us to hear and amplify their voices to the wider maritime world.
We are extremely grateful to Skuld for their continued funding and support of these groups.
Find out more about our LGBTQ+ and other dedicated Peer-to-Peer Support Groups
And adding a Christian group to our peer support
We know that faith-based relationships and encouragement can help seafarers cope with stress, anxiety, and homesickness, promoting better mental health during long contracts.
It’s why, this Easter, we have launched our Christian Peer-to-Peer Support Groups to provide a space for those at sea who feel they are lacking spiritual support or wish to explore the Christian faith in an open environment.
Find out more:
Did you know that if you work in the UK, you can do something called Payroll Giving?
Payroll Giving (sometimes known as Give as You Earn) is an easy and tax-efficient way of making regular donations to your favourite charities straight from your gross pay.
Donating to Sailors’ Society from your gross pay means there is no income tax liability on your donation, and so you may well pay less tax.
We also get the funds to continue our 24/7 vital support for seafarers and their families.
Ask your payroll or HR department if they operate a Payroll Giving scheme or contact development@
