Expanded Africa and Middle East Conference reflects the future of maritime and the growing demand for wellbeing support for cadets, ratings and trainees in International Shipping News 20/06/2026 Back for a fifth year, global maritime charity Sailors’ Society has published the dates for its expanded 2026 Wellness at Sea Conferences for the next generation of maritime. The conferences provide a platform for discussions around mental wellbeing, cultural diversity, connectivity, resilience, career progression and life at sea, while ensuring more young maritime professionals have access to the practical support and wellbeing tools they need before joining the industry. The four regional virtual events entitled ‘Future ready – thriving at sea’ will explore the five pillars of Sailors’ Society’s Wellness at Sea programme – social, emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual wellbeing – through expert presentations, industry discussions and interactive sessions. 2026 also sees the expansion of the Africa regional event to become the Africa and Middle East Conference. Sailors’ Society CEO Sara Baade said: “The move reflects the growing contribution both regions make to the global maritime workforce and recognises the shared experiences, challenges and opportunities facing cadets, ratings and trainees across Africa and the Middle East. By bringing participants together under one regional event, Sailors’ Society aims to encourage greater collaboration, wider knowledge-sharing and stronger peer support networks among the next generation of seafarers.” The acclaimed virtual conferences have already reached more than 35,000 future maritime professionals worldwide and have become a key part of helping maritime students navigate the realities of life at sea. The events complement existing training programmes by providing practical tools and insights on wellbeing, resilience, connectivity, relationships and career devel