Supporting the Families Behind Every Voyage

When challenges arise at home, support can come from unexpected places. Discover how Fleet Care, the Fleet Family Support Group and fellow seafaring families are helping one another through life's ups and downs.

Building Stronger Communities

Fleet Care is available to more than 27,000 seafarers and their families through a growing network of wellbeing, engagement and family support programmes.

Over the past year, Fleet Care has made more than 17,000 welfare calls to families, while more than 1,200 family members have participated in outreach and engagement activities.

These conversations help families stay connected, access practical support and share the realities of life connected to the sea. They also help Fleet identify where additional assistance may be needed and strengthen the support network available to seafarers and their loved ones. When families feel supported, seafarers can focus on life at sea with greater peace of mind.

Creating a Community of Support

Many families experience similar challenges, from long periods of separation to career milestones, changes in assignment schedules and life events at home. In response, the Fleet Family Support Group (FFSG) was created to help families connect with others who understand those experiences.

Today, FFSG has grown to more than 520 active members, as more families discover value in connecting with others who understand the realities of maritime life. Through virtual sessions, discussions, educational activities and peer support, the groups create opportunities for families to share experiences, learn from one another and build lasting friendships.

For many members, one of the most valuable aspects of the community is knowing there are others who understand the realities of maritime life firsthand. Conversations that begin during a Tea Talk, family activity or welfare call often continue long afterwards, creating special friendships.

Family Support in Action

Many FFSG members have gone one step further, supporting fellow Fleet families in their local communities when practical assistance or reassurance is needed.

A Helping Hand During a Medical Emergency

When one Fleet family experienced a medical emergency, Fleet Care reached out through its support network to identify whether practical assistance could be offered locally.

One of the first people to respond was Sreeja, an active member of the Fleet Family Support Group and mother of Fourth Engineer Amal.

As Amal was on leave and living nearby in Kerala, he volunteered to visit the family on behalf of Fleet with the support of his mother, Sreeja. They spent time listening to the family’s concerns, offering reassurance and letting them know assistance was available if needed.

For a family dealing with a difficult situation at home while a loved one was away, knowing somebody was willing to show up, listen and help provided reassurance at a time when it was needed most. Amal also shared his contact details so the family would have someone nearby to turn to, while Fleet Care coordinated further help.

"We all understand the challenges that come with having a loved one at sea. Maritime life teaches us that no family should have to face difficult times alone, and even a small gesture can make a big difference. Knowing that we can help another family, even in a small way, is something I'm proud to be part of."

Sreeja, FFSG Member and mother of Fourth Engineer Amal

Supporting a Family Through Loss

When a Fleet seafarer's family suffered the loss of a loved one while he was away from home, Fleet Care again turned to its wider support network. Shivani, an FFSG member and mother of Fourth Engineer Dhananjay, offered assistance through her son, Dhananjay.

Dhananjay visited the family's home to convey condolences and offer support during a difficult period. He spent time with family members, listened, and helped connect them with Fleet Care so that practical assistance and communication could continue in the days that followed.

For the family, the visit provided comfort, reassurance and a reminder that they were not facing the situation alone. For Dhananjay and Shivani, it was an opportunity to support another family facing circumstances they understood all too well.

"When Fleet Care asked whether I could visit the family, I did not hesitate. As seafarers, we know how difficult it can be when something happens at home while you are away. If I were in the same situation, I would hope somebody would do the same for my family."

Dhananjay, Fourth Engineer

Families who have received support often become the people who later step forward to help somebody else. That ripple effect is one of the strongest foundations of the Fleet Family Support Group.

Supporting Families Through Knowledge and Guidance

Support is not always about responding to challenges. Sometimes it begins with access to the right information.

Fleet continues to work alongside International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network  (ISWAN) to promote the Sailing Together handbook published in January 2026, which has now supported more than 2,000 families and the wider maritime community. The handbook provides practical advice and guidance to help families better understand the realities of life at sea, maintain healthy communication and navigate common challenges associated with seafaring careers.

For many families, understanding the rhythms of life at sea can make periods of separation easier to navigate. Access to practical tools, guidance and shared experiences helps families build confidence and resilience while remaining connected to their loved ones onboard.

Growing the Ripple Effect

Every welfare call, Tea Talk and FFSG activity helps strengthen connections and create a ripple effect. One family receives support, then goes on to support another.

That is how the Fleet Family Support Group continues to make a difference, helping families feel connected, supported and part of something larger than themselves, both at sea and at home.