New healthcare pilot project for women at sea counters subtle hurdles
6 September 2024
UK-based maritime charity the Seafarers' Hospital Society (SHS) has launched a pilot project to provide free feminine hygiene products to women crew on vessels calling into ports.
The charity will supply the Port of Tilbury and the London International Cruise Terminal with a total of 1,030 discrete kits containing feminine hygiene products to freely distribute to women seafarers in need.
SHS CEO Sandra Welch said: 'We are very proud to have launched this pilot project, designed by women and created to support the health and welfare of women working at sea. Although maritime stakeholders often discuss the visible challenges women in our workforce may face – such as harassment (including sexual harassment), bullying, and discrimination in terms of pay, training and opportunities – the more subtle hurdles of a lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and the significant impact on a female seafarer's ability to perform her duties tends to be left unremarked. This must change. I hope this innovative project makes visible this gap and paves the way for similar projects to be created across other ports in the UK.'
The project is funded by a £25,000 grant provided by the TK Foundation and The Seafarers' Charity. Most of the kits will be distributed at the London International Cruise Terminal, and women on cargo ships berthing at Tilbury will also be able to obtain sanitary products from the port chaplain, as SHS is working in partnership with the QVSR London Tilbury Seafarer Centre to provide about 30 sanitary bags.
Chief executive of The Seafarers' Charity Deborah Layde said: 'This project emerged from research we funded into the welfare needs of women on cargo ships, conducted by Seafarers' International Research Centre at Cardiff University. It is our hope that this pilot will help shipping companies reflect on how they can best assist their female crew on board with their wellbeing, as well as improving rates of retention and attracting more women to the industry.'
Maritime program officer at The TK Foundation Dennis Treleaven said: 'We're delighted to support a project that seeks to address the absence of feminine hygiene products onboard vessels during what might be substantial periods at sea, where access to such items might not be easily facilitated. We recognise that women seafarers have an increasingly important role at all levels onboard, and we hope that this project will encourage ship owners and managers to consider the needs of all their seafarers.'
Member support
Nautilus members experiencing difficulties in the workplace such as bullying and harassment are reminded they can get support from with their Union by contacting their industrial representative. They also have access to Nautilus 24/7, a service that helps Nautilus members in emergencies around the clock.
Members can access assistance via the Nautilus 24/7 service by:
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send an SMS text message to+44 (0)7860 017 119 and we'll get back to you
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email helpline@nautilus247.org
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Skype (username nautilus-247)
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Encourage seafaring colleagues to join Nautilus and be part of a strong bargaining unit to ensure strong pay and conditions
Image: Nautilus Council member Jessica Tyson at the 2023 General Meeting, presenting what is now a resolution commiting the Union to supporting the yacht sector.
Useful resources
SAIL provides free confidential advice on benefits, money worries, charity grants, pensions and much more: www.sailine.org.uk
The Safety Net is a one-stop-shop providing bespoke information and support for UK seafarers and their families on personal savings, money management, credit choices, debt advice, and relationship and mental health support: www.seafarersafetynet.org
In the Netherlands, the Foundation Training and Development Fund for Sea Shipping offers educational bursaries and grants: www.scheepvaartnet.nl.
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