The focus of this research is on working-age seafarers with a Merchant Navy background, while recognizing a broader literature that exists on the welfare of Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, ex-Royal Navy personnel, fishermen and former seafarers. The latter groups are not addressed directly but are discussed in the section on directions for future research. This review was undertaken at Southampton Solent University (SSU), and involved a methodology consultant (JJ) from the Centre for Advancement in Realist Evaluation and Synthesis (CARES) at the University of Liverpool.
The aim of the study was to identify opportunities for charitable innovations in which such innovations would begin with the identification of problems and deficiencies in the context of seafaring, followed by programme recommendations to improve seafarer welfare.