Future seafarers from across the African continent will be taking part in Sailors’ Society’s ground-breaking global wellness and mental health conference, designed exclusively for maritime school cadets.
In a first for the industry, delegates will be attending from colleges in South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Namibia and Angola, as well as Mozambique, Reunion, Seychelles and Mauritius.
The international maritime charity is hosting four virtual events in India, the Pacific, Africa and Europe, exploring wellbeing and mental health with those embarking on a seafaring career.
The first of the four conferences, held in India last month, was hailed an overwhelming success. More than 1,600 cadets from 21 Indian and Sri Lankan maritime colleges registered to take part in the event, with participants describing it as ‘a wonderful learning experience’ that would ‘better prepare them for their life at sea’.
Sara Baade, Sailors’ Society’s CEO said: “We were delighted not only to have had such a fantastic number join the first of our Wellness at Sea Maritime Schools’ Conferences but to also see that so many African schools have signed up their cadets to join us on September 21.
“These conferences are a proactive investment in young minds and build on our pioneering wellness training and support programme, the most comprehensive and long running in the maritime industry.
“We recognise that today’s cadets are tomorrow’s workforce and future leaders, and so we want to equip them with the tools to manage their wellbeing and knowledge of how to access help should they need it, as well as how to support their crewmates.
“Seafaring is an amazing career but presents its own set of unique challenges, so crew wellness should be a priority.”
More than 96 per cent of cadets, polled at the Indian conference, said that wellbeing training should be mandatory with one cadet commenting: “The need for educating seafarers about mental health is a must and it is done well through this conference. All the speakers were excellent and are very experienced. I personally learned a lot.”
The conferences focus on key issues facing cadets today. Each has a bespoke mix of international and more local industry experts who present on themes, including diversity, crises and working at sea during a conflict.
The TK Foundation is Gold Sponsor for the Africa conference, with support from Inmarsat and technical partner UK P&I Club.
Ms Zamachonco Chonco, the Acting Chief Executive of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), will deliver the keynote speech on the importance of wellbeing and welfare to ensure a bright future in the maritime industry.
Other speakers include special guest speaker Capt. (Dr) Ed Snyders, former Head of Maritime Studies CPUT, who will talk about coping with the realities of life at sea, and Sandisiwe Silindokuhle Binda, Second Navigation Officer, Oceana, who will be sharing insights on bridging the gender gap.
