Sailors‘ Society’s Head of Wellness Johan Smith has been on a whistle-stop tour of India, meeting up with old friends and supporters and establishing some great new relationships for the maritime charity.
Johan said: “Among the many highlights was meeting with the Director General of Shipping in India, Mr Shyam Jaganathan. He said he really appreciated Sailors’ Society initiatives in providing wellness and e-learning training programmes for seafarers.”
The first stop on Johan’s Indian tour was Goa, and he was certainly kept busy in the southwestern state.
He spent time with the Goan Seamen Association of India firming up a programme for seafarers’ families. He also had the opportunity to visit with Sea Scan Maritime Foundation and catch up with staff at IMS Goa (maritime college). The Marine Engineering cadets from IMS Goa, and Sea Scan’s pre-sea trainees will be attending Sailors’ Society’s North Asia Cadet Conference in August.
He also met with the president of the International Institute of Marine Surveying, Capt. Ruchin Dayal and his team.
Capt. Dayal commented: “Despite all apparent positive conditions, seafarers face loneliness and depression like never before. Sailors’ Society recognises these challenges and offers programmes and resources to help seafarers build connections and combat loneliness.”
Johan also visited Chennai and Mumbai where he met with representatives from many of the shipping companies and maritime colleges based there.
“We were delighted that many were interested in partnering with us to help their seafarers undergo our Wellness at Sea programme,” Johan said.
In Mumbai, around 50 delegates were present for a special Wellness at Sea seminar hosted by MSC Crewing Services – India and inaugurated by Mr Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping in India.
Delegates were impressed with the presentation delivered by Johan and wanted to know more about the MyWellness e-learning app and Sailors’ Society’s 24/7 helpline services.
“Overall, it was a very successful and enjoyable visit,” Johan added.
To find out more about our training programmes and 24/7 services for seafarers go to sailors-society.org
