Howden launches “SAFER at Home” to protect seafarers on leave and their families throughout the year

Singapore (June 30, 2026) – Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, today announces the launch of SAFER at Home (SAFER – Seafarers and Families Enhanced Resilience), a new solution designed to protect seafarers and their families during periods off contract when they are not employed at sea. 

Seafarers are the backbone of global trade. They are the 1.89 million men and women who crew the vessels carrying over 90% of the world's goods, yet many remain uninsured when at home between assignments. Howden SAFER at Home addresses this gap, extending affordable healthcare protection beyond time at sea and supporting the wellbeing of both seafarers and their families.

As a basic, the product offers accessible hospitalisation cover, designed for shipping companies to purchase on behalf of their seafarers, supporting retention strategies while strengthening employee value propositions in a competitive global labour market. Additional enhanced benefits can be tailored as per individual Client’s requirements.

Developed in partnership with UK-based Crewsure and supporting the Mission to Seafarers, the solution brings together insurance expertise with a global welfare network. The Mission to Seafarers operates in around 50 countries and more than 200 ports, providing frontline support including chaplaincy, helplines and wellbeing services for seafarers and family members globally.

The launch reflects Howden’s continued focus on delivering innovative, people-first solutions that respond to evolving client and workforce needs across the maritime sector.

Danny Whiteside, Global Practice Leader for Marine, Cargo & Logistics commented: “Seafarers dedicate their lives to keeping global trade moving, yet too often they and their families are left exposed when they are on leave. SAFER at Home closes that gap, providing peace of mind not just to seafarers, but to the families they support. By combining affordability, meaningful coverage and a strong social purpose, we are setting a new standard for how the industry looks after its people.”

Nick Stace, Group Chief Impact Officer, Howden said: “At the heart of SAFER at Home is a simple idea: that the people who keep global trade moving, and the families who stand behind them, deserve protection and support, both at sea and at home. That’s why we’ve built this product to go beyond traditional insurance and reinvest in the communities that underpin the industry. It’s about creating value for shipping companies and their crews in a way that is both commercially sound and socially meaningful.”