Maritime charity launches new-look annual awards

The Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) is calling on the maritime sector to nominate its unsung heroes for the charity’s new-look annual awards.

For the first time since the award launched in 1988, MNWB has reimagined the Annual Award for Services to Seafarers’ Welfare so that more individuals can be recognised for providing exceptional service to seafarers and fishers.

This year, five new categories have been introduced, including one for ‘most collaborative organisation’.

The 2024 annual awards categories are:

• Volunteer of the year.
• Team member of the year.
• Lifetime achievement award.
• Most collaborative organisation.
• Innovation award.

“Year after year, the challenge becomes harder to choose recipients for this award, and there are just so many individuals who go above and beyond to improve the lives of seafarers”, says Stuart Rivers, chief executive of the MNWB, which is the umbrella charity for the UK Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets.

“That’s why we’ve taken the decision to review the awards and launch five new categories so more individuals can be recognised for their stellar work alongside the most collaborative organisation. The awards enable us to show our sincere appreciation for the difference those individuals make to improving seafarers’ welfare.

“We look forward to hearing stories that continue to capture our hearts.”

Nominees can be salaried personnel or volunteers in the maritime charity sector and should have a long history of making a positive and proactive contribution to the welfare of seafarers.

Robert Campbell, Sandy Nairne, Paula Daly, and Sister Mary Scholastica received the award last year.

Nominations can now be made online. The closing date for nominations is 31 July 2024.

The awards will be presented at MNWB’s biannual Port Welfare Conference, which will take place in Liverpool, UK, from 11-12 September 2024.