Norwegian Government Seafarers' Service

Welfare services and facilities both on board and in ports can be a lifeline for seafarers, as they experience long periods away from family, friends, and their home community. Both the maritime administration and the respective ship owners are responsible for contributing to an active and meaningful leisure time for seafarers - on board and ashore. The welfare provisions are based on ILO's Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), Article IV, no 4: All seafarers have the right to welfare measures. On this site you can find a range of cultural and recreational services offered by NMA as well as recommendations and tips on what the ship owners and the vessel crews themselves can do to improve social life on board.