The International Seafarers’ Welfare & Assistance Network (ISWAN) has experienced a huge increase in the number of mariners seeking help.
The organisation, which offers a 24/7 helpline called SeafarerHelp, assisted 11,228 seafarers last year — the most ever, and well up on the previous year’s 9,786.
“It was a difficult year for the shipping industry, which by definition means it was also a difficult year for many seafarers,” chairman Per Gullestrup said.
