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The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) is delighted to announce that it has been granted consultative status by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

This recognition marks a significant milestone in ISWAN’s mission to champion the health, wellbeing and safety of seafarers worldwide. ISWAN’s application was approved by the 34^th Assembly of the IMO, held in December 2025.

Consultative status is granted to non-governmental international organisations that can provide expert advice and represent large groups with a direct bearing on IMO’s work. For ISWAN, this means being able to share its specialist knowledge on the challenges facing seafarers to help inform IMO’s decisions and standards, while also representing the views and concerns of the global seafaring community directly to IMO. This consultative status helps ensure that seafarers’ interests are considered in international maritime policy and that their voices are heard at the highest level of decision-making.

‘This achievement gives ISWAN a seat at the table where global maritime policy is shaped,’ said Simon Grainge, Chief Executive at ISWAN. ‘We will use this opportunity to lend our voice to those other champions of seafarer welfare already present, advocating for a safer, fairer and more inclusive maritime sector for the men and women who keep world trade moving.’

ISWAN will begin engaging with IMO committees and contributing to discussions on issues affecting seafarer health and welfare such as bullying and harassment, ensuring effective training that works for seafarers, and advocating for a seafarer-centred approach to decarbonisation and digitalisation. By leveraging this consultative role, ISWAN aims to ensure that seafarers’ wellbeing remains a priority in international maritime regulation.