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Seafarers Health Promotion

ISWAN Workshop in Paris – October 2024

In October 2024, IMHA organised a workshop in Paris with ISWAN and representatives from the French Ministry for Public Health.

  • Focus: developing health messaging that improves the wellbeing of seafarers, while also educating about known diseases.

  • Outcome: the workshop is a continuation of revising the SHIP Health Promotion Materials.

  • Representation: Dr. David Lucas will represent IMHA in the project steering committee.

  • Support: ITF Seafarers Trust.

Report

Workshop Outcomes & Project Brief

This report was provided by IMHA Board Member Dr. David Lucas.
It summarises the results of a day-long workshop between ISWAN and IMHA in Paris (October 2024).

Participants

IMHA representatives

  • Glennda Canlas, MD (Philippines – online)

  • Andra Ergle, MD (Latvia – present)

  • Tarik Gahilan, MD (Morocco – present)

  • David Lucas, MD (France – present)

  • Rob Verbist, MD – IMHA President (Belgium – present)

  • Kris Lemmens – IMHA Secretary (Belgium – present)

ISWAN representatives

  • Katie Earnshaw (present)

  • Simon Grainge – ISWAN Director (present)

Guests – Santé Publique France

  • Justine Avenel

  • Jennifer Davies

About the Seafarers’ Health Information Programme (SHIP)

In 2003, SHIP was a joint initiative between IMHA and the former International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare (ICSW).

Goal: to support seafarers to take better care of their health at sea. The project aimed to address the lack of high quality, tailored health information that was designed for seafarers’ specific needs and employment situations.

Feedback from ISWAN shows that these resources have been widely used and are highly regarded across the maritime sector.

Overall Aim

“Seafarers’ health is not substantially improving, despite many educational initiatives.”

  • Seafarers continue to face substantial health challenges.

  • Much of the existing guidance is top-down or company-led → risk of passive consumption, with little real impact.

  • Primary objective: improve the wellbeing of seafarers.

  • Secondary objective: prevent non-communicable diseases in the seafaring population.

Next steps

Research & Engagement

  • What health resources already exist, and who has access?

  • What do seafarers actually want and need?

  • Where are the gaps in provision?

  • Who are the key stakeholders and how can collaboration be optimised?

  • What initiatives are underway?

    • Example: Marine Benefits + ITF Seafarers’ Trust → integrating health promotion in pre-employment medical exams.

  • What approaches to health promotion really work?

Defining Project Scope

The core resources should be free for all seafarers.
To increase impact, a wraparound campaign may also be developed for stakeholders.

Possible components:

  • Staggered release of new resources

  • Targeted communication materials for each resource

  • Guidance for companies → small changes in onboard environment can make a big difference

  • Interactive campaigns (awareness months, fitness competitions, online challenges)

  • Inclusion of women in maritime (currently ~2% of workforce) and gender identity considerations

  • Medical neutrality → IMHA as final editor for medical issues

  • Focus on personal gains for seafarers, not just ship or operational benefits

Agreements & Roles

  • ISWAN will lead the project

  • IMHA will provide medical expertise

  • A steering committee will be formed, including ICMA, ICS, and ITF

Looking Ahead

  • March/April 2025 → Next meeting

  • First half 2025 → Steering group meeting

  • 2025 → Funding application by ISWAN

Reference

According to data from Nordic Medical Clinic (2018–2022), almost half of Filipino seafarers were consistently categorised in the highest health risk group.