Cadets are the future lifeblood of the maritime industry

This will be the last Christmas they spend with family as next year they’ll be on their first ship and encounter the reality of separation from family, the long hours and the isolation they may feel being the new recruit in a small international crew.

Shockingly, like 70 per cent of the young men and women who choose a career at sea, these three cadets have never been on a ship.

Thankfully, Sailors‘ Society is here for them, helping prepare them for their new life on board.

We are investing in the future of maritime – will you?

Sahil’s family got themselves deeply into debt paying his fees at maritime school. He now shoulders the burden of repaying them and feels he must succeed at sea. He feels under extreme pressure before he even steps onto his first ship.

Dalisay is just 19, she knows she may be the only female seafarer on her ship. She is really anxious about how she will cope.

John comes from a family of seafarers but has heard stories from them about bullying and harassment at sea. He’s losing sleep worrying about how he would handle that.

Sahil, Dalisay and John are not alone. More than half of the cadets in training we polled have fears around sustaining their mental health once at sea.

Can you help us prepare them for their best future
at sea?

Our aim is to give cadets a basic toolkit to help identify issues for themselves and their crew mates and to ensure they know where to turn for information and support should they need it.

Our groundbreaking virtual cadet conferences, now in their fourth year, have provided 20,000 cadets with the tools and knowledge to ensure they can flourish at sea.

Our unique cadet Wellness at Sea training and support for cadets throughout their journey is re-shaping wellness and welfare for these Gen Z seafarers.

• Our Sea Ready training provides thousands of cadets with wellness and seafarer mental health awareness before their first voyage

• Our cadet Peer-to-Peer Support Groups enable cadets to share experiences and advice with one another in safe online communities

• Our MyWellness e-learning app works on and offline, ensuring they have wellbeing resources at their fingertips

• Our grants make maritime education possible for some cadets

• Our helpline and Crisis Response Network are there whenever and wherever cadets and seafarers need support

And through our helpline and family Peer-to-Peer Support Groups, we are here for the families of cadets, anxious about their young sons and daughters many thousands of miles from home.

Cadets are the lifeblood of the maritime industry. It’s their passion for a career at sea that keeps the engines running.

But they need your help.

Sahil, Dalisay and John will spend next Christmas at sea. Will you help us ensure it will be a happy and healthy one?

2024 cadet conference participants said: