Sailors’ Society launches increased support for Chinese seafarers
Sailors’ Society has announced a significant expansion of its support for Mandarin-speaking seafarers – a key part of its global strategy to strengthen welfare provision for crews of all nationalities and backgrounds.
As part of this initiative, the charity has launched the Chinese translation of its award-winning wellness resources, marking the first step in a broader effort to reach and empower China’s seafarers.
The free materials, which include training in everything from understanding your rights to emotional wellbeing and physical fitness on board, have been released ahead of the start of Hong Kong Maritime Week this weekend (November 16).
Trials revealed more than 95 per cent of Chinese seafarers found the content useful, relevant and would recommend it to colleagues. China is the second largest supplier of seafarers globally, but language and access barriers have made it difficult to reach these crews with consistent welfare support.
The new ‘Mandarin’ materials have been made possible through collaboration with leading maritime partners. Valles Steamship Company, Limited has funded the translation of Sailors’ Society’s hugely popular My Wellness e-learning platform, which has seen more than 5,600 seafarers worldwide sign up, while Wah Kwong Maritime Transport is supporting the translation of the Society’s Awareness Campaign materials.
“Chinese seafarers play such an important role in our maritime sector today that it is vitally important they can access the help and support available to them,” said Wellington Koo, executive director of Valles Steamship Company, Limited.
“Partnering with Sailors’ Society to bring these materials to life in Chinese benefits not only individual seafarers but their fellow crews and the entire maritime community.”
The Society’s CEO, Sara Baade, added: “Our vision is to ensure every seafarer, regardless of language, can access the wellbeing tools and community support they deserve. This launch represents the first step in a wider strategy to strengthen welfare provision for Mandarin-speaking seafarers, who play such a crucial role in keeping global trade moving.”
Sailors’ Society will next expand its Peer-to-Peer Support programme with dedicated groups for Chinese seafarers and plans to hold a Wellness at Sea Conference for Chinese cadets, ratings and trainees next year.
