The Merchant Navy Welfare Board has announced the recipients of its 2026 MNWB Annual Awards for Services to Seafarers’ Welfare, including our Head of Charitable Giving Vikki Muir. The awards celebrate leaders, frontline workers and volunteers from across the maritime welfare sector.
The event at London’s Trinity House (18 February) highlighted the exceptional efforts of individuals and organisations working tirelessly to support seafarers and fishers across the UK.
HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of the MNWB, attended the ceremony and personally presented the awards. Her Royal Highness’s presence underscored the significance of the contributions recognised on the day and the vital importance of welfare support across the maritime community. Also present, as seen in the photo above, was Immediate Past Deputy Master Captain Sir Ian McNaught; Sir Ian was there in his capacity as President of the MNWB.
Vikki is one of two individuals honoured as Team Member of the Year:
Vikki was celebrated for her strong collaborative leadership and unwavering commitment to improving welfare outcomes. Her work overseeing charitable grants, combined with her significant role in the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Pilot Project, has strengthened partnerships and fostered greater cohesion across the maritime welfare sector. Her professionalism, insight and dedication have positively shaped how support is delivered.
Commenting on the well-deserved award, Vikki said:
"I am honoured and a little overwhelmed to receive this award. I have not received an award since Silver Brownie in a year that I am not going to admit to! What makes it even more special, is that it comes from my peers for doing a job that I love, supporting seafarers and their families who are the real unsung heroes in our society. Thank you.”
Iain Lindsay of Nautilus International was recognised for his compassionate, hands on support for seafarers throughout both active service and retirement—from securing grants and arranging rehousing to offering personal and practical assistance. His leadership in the creation of the new Merchant Navy memorial plaque on the Govan Partick bridge in Glasgow, commemorating the 55,000 Merchant Navy personnel lost during the Second World War, highlights his deep commitment to remembrance and community.
Other recipients
The Innovation Award was presented to Queen Victoria Seafarer’s Rest (QVSR) for its remarkable ability to modernise and expand its services while maintaining more than 180 years of heritage. Under the long-serving leadership of CEO Alexander Campbell, QVSR has transformed accommodation services in East London and taken responsibility for seafarers’ centres in Immingham, Bristol and Felixstowe. The organisation’s 24‑hour centres, purpose-built wellbeing spaces and high‑quality recreational facilities demonstrate QVSR’s continued commitment to putting “seafarers first” and responding to the needs of today’s maritime workforce.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Sandra Welch, CEO of the Seafarers Hospital Society, in recognition of her exceptional and sustained impact on seafarers’ health and wellbeing. Since 2020, Sandra has overseen nationwide enhancements to physiotherapy provision, strengthened mental‑health support and spearheaded pioneering gender-responsive initiatives, including the Feminine Hygiene Project, which has provided more than 1,000 discreet hygiene kits to women seafarers. Her leadership in collaborative programmes such as SeaFit and her work supporting neurodivergent seafarers have contributed significantly to sector-wide progress and improved access to essential healthcare.
The Department for Transport (DfT) was recognised as the Most Collaborative Organisation, reflecting its outstanding leadership in uniting government, industry, unions and welfare charities. The department has ensured meaningful consultation and strengthened support for frontline welfare providers. Key initiatives include funding for the MNWB’s Vehicle Replacement Programme and MiFi Mobile Broadband project, as well as a major £2.1 million post‑Covid recovery grant that has ensured continuity and stability for essential maritime welfare services.
The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Peter Wells of the Seafarers’ Christian Friend Society for more than a decade of outstanding voluntary service as a ship‑visiting chaplain. Now in his late 70s, Peter continues to grow and mentor volunteer teams in Portsmouth, Lisbon and Malta. His commitment was particularly evident during the Covid‑19 pandemic, when he was the only person permitted to continue onboard ship visits, providing seafarers with SIM cards, warm clothing, literature and vital companionship at a time of extreme isolation.