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ADVERTORIALWITH YOU IN MINDThe Isle of Man Ship Registry has formally launched the first everseafarer welfare app ‘Crew Matters’ designed by a flag stateIsle of Man Ship Registry director CameronMitchell said the app, named ‘CrewMatters’ has been developed in partnershipwith Liverpool-based training company TapiitLive and is the most advanced of its kindever produced for seafarers. He said theapp has just gone live and is available toaround 10,000 seafarers sailing on morethan 400 vessels under the Isle of Man flag.The launch is particularly timely as hundredsof thousands of seafarers began the newyear separated from their families, with400,000 currently working beyond theircontracts, according to the InternationalMaritime Organization (IMO).Cameron, who served as a marine engineer atsea for 17 years with shipping lines includingMaersk and Farstad, said the app has beencreated primarily to tackle the immensechallenges facing seafarers brought intosharp focus by the coronavirus pandemic.“Safety is a fundamental pillar of our ethosas a high-quality flag state,” he said. “Evenbefore Covid, we recognised that while thereis support for seafarers in port, throughthe many brilliant chaplaincies and seafarercharities, the ‘weak link’ is support whileat sea. Seafarer mental health is becomingmore acute, with seafarers spending moretime alone in their cabin than ever before.The app has many functions but a key oneis to provide social activities such as livegym work-outs to get seafarers interactingmore on-board to combat that isolation.’’Seafarers can be away fromfriends and family for manymonths at a time, undertaking vitalyet often physically and mentallydifficult work. This new app willmean that seafarers and Nautilusmembers will have access to news,support and vital contacts to makesure that they have everything theyneed while they are at sea.Mark Dickinson, General Secretaryof Nautilus International“The app provides structured welfaresupport for the seafarer, ranging froma health and wellbeing self-help librarythat includes nutritional advice, throughto Tapiit’s live streamed and interactivesupport sessions,” he said. “Users willhave access to a full month’s agenda ofphysical and mental wellbeing classes andeducational trainings, including fitness andyoga sessions. Seafarers can also log theirwork and rest hours, and if they feel stressedor unwell there is a live SOS function whichprovides immediate access to the SeafarersHelp Live Chat, which is free, confidentialand available 24-7. In addition, the appconnects with global seafarer charity StellaMaris and enables seafarers to find contactdetails for the organisation’s chaplains in54 countries around the world.”On a practical level, the app tackles theproblem of storing seafarer documentationin one place, as well as providing a linkto trade union Nautilus with details ofmembership, news, careers, and jobs andtraining opportunities. In addition, it providesaccess to a wealth of information fromthe ship registry including the master’shandbook, shipping notices, IOMSR newsfeeds, marine traffic and local port services.“The feedback we are receiving from shipowners both clients and non-clients is reallypositive,” he said. “Ship owners want to findbetter ways to help and protect seafarers,and want to embrace digital innovation. Wehope this app will be a step forward for theindustry and make a positive difference tomany thousands of seafarers sailing underthe Isle of Man flag.”For more details Tel: +44 (0)1624 688500or email: registry.marine@gov.imONBOARD | SPRING 2021 | 35
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