Merchant Navy Welfare Board

Who we are

The Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) is the UK’s National Seafarers’ Welfare Board in accordance with ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 Regulation 4.4 (MLC, 2006). As the umbrella charity for the UK Merchant Navy and fishing fleets. As the umbrella charity for the UK Merchant Navy and fishing fleets, the MNWB has 45 Constituent member organisations providing welfare support to serving and retired UK seafarers, and their families. These organisations provide a plethora of welfare services ranging from care homes to financial assistance with many supporting international seafarers. Working closely with Constituent member organisations and our 16 Port Welfare Committees, we cover the entire UK coastline and Gibraltar. The MNWB brings the maritime community together facilitating collaboration within this varied and complex sector. For further information about the Board, visit https://www.mnwb.org/

Our culture and values

The key objectives of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board are to:

• Help improve the effectiveness of all those charities caring for merchant seafarers, fishermen and their dependants and this is done irrespective of nationality, religion or ethnic background.
   
• Strive to ensure that all welfare needs are met through the most effective deployment of resources.
   
• Facilitate the work of Constituent organisations through the provision of grants and specialist support services.
   
• Provide a dedicated welfare support and referral service for UK seafarers and their dependants.
   
• Manage and support Port Welfare Committees to develop local welfare services.
   
• Encourage and enable closer collaboration amongst both Constituent organisations and Port Welfare Committees.
   
• Represent and raise awareness of seafarers’ welfare issues at national level.