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MASSA is a non-profit body representing shipowners, ship managers, and agents, with a long-standing connection to Indian manning and a strong institutional presence through the MASSA Maritime Academy, which operates campuses in Navi Mumbai and Chennai. This partnership brings together two organisations committed to the welfare of those working in and around the maritime industry.

At the heart of this collaboration is the “Together in Care” workshop, developed and owned by ISWAN. The workshop equips shore staff with practical skills in communication, psychological first aid, and resilience, while strengthening the relationships between shore-based professionals, seafarers, and their families. Following a successful pilot in Mumbai, both parties have agreed to scale delivery across key cities including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Chennai.

A partnership is only as strong as what each side puts into it. By making its venues available to ISWAN across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Chennai, MASSA is investing in the people its member companies rely on every day. It is actively reaching into its network to promote workshop schedules, nominate shore personnel, and provide the on-ground administrative support that makes delivery seamless. The doors are also open to professionals from non-member organisations, because MASSA recognises that shore staff wellbeing is not a competitive issue. It is a human one.

For ISWAN, this kind of institutional backing is not something we take for granted. Building a training programme that is accessible, affordable, and available across multiple cities has been challenging, and MASSA’s support has been foundational to making that vision a reality. Every “Together in Care” session is delivered by qualified, experienced psychologists with maritime expertise. It is a space for real conversations, real skill-building, and real change.

This MoU marks a meaningful step in ISWAN’s work to bring structured, evidence-based wellbeing training to maritime shore staff at scale. By combining ISWAN’s expertise in seafarer and shore staff welfare with MASSA’s networks and infrastructure, the partnership creates a practical pathway to reach more professionals who play a vital role in the maritime ecosystem.

Find out more about ISWAN’s “Together in Care: Enhancing the Wellbeing of Seafarers, Families, and Shore Staff” workshop here.

To book a session with ISWAN, email us at: [email protected]