We are delighted that more than 210 people including industry leaders and MPs attended our Annual Parliamentary seafarers’ welfare function this year! They united to honour and support the vital contribution of the more than 110,000 seafarers who arrive on cargo vessels, and the around 360,000 more arriving on cruise ships, into NSW ports every year.
We currently help over 10,000 each year through our wellbeing services at our Sydney Mission and funds raised from the event and our EOFY Appeal – which ends June 30 – will go towards helping us to reach more even more seafarers!
Our CEO Clayton Strong said the excellent turnout was a powerful reflection of the wide-ranging support for the wellbeing of the men and women who work tirelessly to bring us the goods and resources we rely on every day. “Together, we have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to make a real difference in their lives,” he said.
Image: MtS presented thank you plaques to the founding organisations of the NSW Seafarers Welfare Fund: (l tor) Chair MtS Rob Dunn, MtS Syd CEO Clayton Strong, Port Authority CEO John McKenna and NSW Ports CEO Marika Calfas, AMSA CEO Kaylene Dale and Port of Newcastle’s Glen Hayward
AMSA CEO Kaylene Dale said seafaring was one of the most dangerous and demanding professions, however there was no “cookie cutter approach“ to improving their lives. She complimented the various sectors for working together to boost seafarer wellbeing and challenged the industry to see how their efforts could be enhanced for greater impact.
She said the National Workplace Health and Safety Authority in Australia lists 17 Job demands that were risk factors for a person’s psychosocial safety. They are all relatively common for a seafarer.
“If it isn’t already abundantly evident, seafarer wellbeing is directly linked to safety at sea. When crew members are stressed, fatigued, or distracted by personal concerns, their ability to perform critical tasks is compromised, increasing the risk of accidents and operational failures,” she said.
“We know the suicide rate for seafarers is under-reported, but even based on the data we have seen, it’s a disproportionate rate of suicide to the general population. Norwegian marine insurers, the Gard, released a 2024 Crew Claims Report that said 11% of the over 400 deaths reported on its insured vessels over the years 2019-2023 were due to suicide.
“Investing in seafarer wellbeing is not just about caring for people—it is a fundamental pillar of maritime safety, as essential as maintaining the ship’s mechanical integrity…I strongly believe that individually and together, the work we do can help safeguard and improve the health, dignity, and effectiveness of those who keep our world connected and challenge you all to consider how you could enhance your efforts,” she said.
Port Authority of NSW CEO John McKenna said seafarers faced tough working conditions – long stretches away from home, fatigue and isolation at sea. He outlined how the NSW Seafarers Welfare Fund, launched at this luncheon last year, had helped to build on and strengthen the work of seafarer-focused charities in NSW.
“But we need more hands at the helm,” he said as he invited the wider industry to join the inaugural fund members, the Port Authority of NSW, NSW Ports and the Port of Newcastle. “Here’s your chance to show seafarers we see them, we value them and we are prepared to support them,” he said. He said the Fund supports incredible frontline organisations that provided compassionate care and essential services, ensuring seafarers receive the mental, physical and logistical support they need.
In a surprise announcement, Mr McKenna shared the news of the recipients of Round 2 of the five-year, $2.5 million Fund. They include Mission to Seafarers Eden, Mission to Seafarers Port Kembla, Mission to Seafarers Newcastle and Mission to Seafarers Sydney.
Mr McKenna said building on the success of the inaugural funding round, the Seafarer Welfare Fund will continue to strengthen frontline services. Last year, Mission to Seafarers Sydney more than doubled its ship visits providing compassionate chaplaincy services.
Several members of Parliament also joined us on the day – thank you to the Hon John Graham, Minister for Transport (centre), the Hon Yasmin Catley Minister for Police, the Hon Paul Scully Minister for Planning and Wollongong MP (r) with Clayton and Ms Calfas. Alison Byrnes Federal MP for Cunningham (Wollongong) also attended.
Thank you to all our sponsors for making this premier event possible: The MCC Group and the Gulf Agency Company KSA (Australia); plus bronze sponsors: Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), Svitzer Australia, DCN – Daily Cargo News and Cadence Media – Australia and our core partners the SBU.
We also greatly appreciated companies including Carnival Cruise Line, Australasian Marine Pilots Institute (AMPI), DP World, Swire and Engage Marine, Mediterranean Shipping Company (Aust), the Cruising Institute and the ITF for purchasing tables.
Please join us for next year’s event on Friday, June 19, 2026 – to make sure you don’t miss out on your invitation, sign up to Stay in Touch in our footer if you haven’t already. Please contact Clayton Strong if you’d like to sponsor our event next year or have any tips of who may wish to do so!
Thank you for the event photography, Brendan Ridley, Cadence Media – Australia
