News & articles

Photo: Marlow Navigation

At the beginning of 2025, Marlow Navigation launched a dedicated emotional support service in partnership with the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) to ensure support for its seafarers is available around the clock.

Specialising in third-party crew and ship management services, maritime training and offshore sector support, Marlow Navigation was founded in 1982 as a small family business and evolved into a globally recognised and trusted name in the industry. The company retains its family-oriented values and credits its dedicated team, both ashore and at sea, as the cornerstone of its success.

With over 1,100 vessels under crew management and more than 16,000 seafarers on board at any given time, the Marlow family spans the globe, and the company is committed to providing its crew members with the necessary tools and support, no matter where they are.

Recognising the importance of providing its seafarers with a safe space to talk through any hardships they face, Marlow commissioned ISWAN to operate an independent, confidential, multilingual emotional support service which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The service offers a safe space and a non-judgmental listening ear for Marlow seafarers to share their thoughts and feelings, and ISWAN’s helpline officers are trained in providing an emotional support service for any issues that affect seafarers and their families, including supporting suicidal callers and those at risk of harm. Marlow’s helpline will be operated by the same team operating ISWAN’s established helpline SeafarerHelp, which is accredited with the Helplines Standard.

ISWAN will share top-line, anonymised reports with Marlow to provide an insight into the mental health challenges facing its crew to enable the company to respond with preventative measures.

‘We are pleased to have this seafarer helpline service as part of our support system,’ said Marlow Navigation’s Training Director, Joern Clodius. ‘We trust this lifeline will significantly benefit our seafarers and their families. If even one person gains valuable assistance from this initiative, our partnership project with ISWAN can be deemed a success. At the same time, anonymised feedback received from ISWAN will give us a better insight into the wellbeing of our seafarers, helping us improve by taking any necessary pre-emptive measures.’

Marlow previously sponsored ISWAN’s 2024 seminar in India, and has now joined ISWAN’s network of members to support the organisation’s work for seafarers and their families, explore potential collaborative opportunities with other like-minded organisations, and contribute its own insights to ISWAN’s research and publications.

Companies and organisations interested in setting up a dedicated emotional support service for their crew with ISWAN can find out more and get in touch at www.iswan.org.uk/services.