ISWAN helpline report highlights seafarers’ growing needs

The International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) has published its annual report from its 24-hour, multilingual helpline SeafarerHelp, revealing the challenges seafarers and their families are facing as life and work at sea becomes increasingly complex. Drawing on data and insights from thousands of confidential helpline conversations, the report highlights emerging welfare concerns and the action needed across the maritime sector to support seafarers' wellbeing, safety and dignity.

The report, sponsored by NorthStandard, shows that while fewer seafarers contacted SeafarerHelp for straightforward enquiries in 2025, those who did reach out increasingly needed support with complex, interconnected challenges affecting their wellbeing, relationships, finances and safety. New contacts (i.e. calls and messages) decreased, but follow-up contacts increased as more people required ongoing support rather than a single conversation.



Although SeafarerHelp primarily hears from seafarers and family members facing difficulties rather than those having positive experiences, several themes emerged consistently across helpline interactions in 2025. Seafarers described the cumulative emotional impact of long periods away from home, demanding workloads, concerns about family life ashore and uncertainty created by wider industry and geopolitical developments. Many challenges rarely occurred in isolation – mental health concerns were often closely linked to employment issues, onboard culture, financial pressures or experiences of abuse.



The findings also suggest that improving onboard connectivity is changing why people seek help. Many seafarers now use online sources to find practical information themselves but continue to turn to SeafarerHelp when situations require empathy, professional judgement, specialist knowledge or emotional support. Helpline officers increasingly report that callers want reassurance they are speaking to a real person who understands the realities of maritime life.



One of the clearest findings from the review is the significant rise in mental health-related cases. The number of contacts relating to mental health concerns increased by 35.9% compared with the previous year, reaching the highest level recorded by SeafarerHelp and exceeding levels seen at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.



In response, ISWAN expanded its mental health support during 2025, including the introduction of a Specialised Support Team providing ongoing mental health support, alongside initiatives such as SEAS (Seafarers' Education and Awareness Sessions) and the BAYANIHAN mental health initiative in the Philippines.



The report also highlights the continuing impact of abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence at sea. Women were disproportionately affected, being more than four times as likely as men to raise these concerns with SeafarerHelp.



To address these challenges, ISWAN continues to develop programmes including its ‘Safe at sea...it takes all of us!’ campaign and the Social Interaction Matters Project, both designed to help create safer and more supportive working environments on board.



At the same time, SeafarerHelp supported a growing number of seafarers affected by abandonment, with abandonment-related contacts increasing by 41.2% during 2025 and rising by 158.9% since 2022. Many affected seafarers reported being left without pay, support or a clear route home.



As the organisation begins its work with consultative status at the IMO in 2026, ISWAN says it is committed to ensuring that the experiences shared through its helplines continue to inform discussions about the future of seafarer welfare.