Sailor honoured for championing mental health at sea

Mr Jones said it was "absolutely vital that seafarers have a voice"

A sailor who has championed mental health and helped to bring home a group of British maritime security guards jailed in India has been awarded a medal.

Steven Jones has been awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for services to safety, welfare and training, the Department for Transport (DfT) said.

The 52-year-old from Wirral, Merseyside, created the Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI) in 2015, which monitors the mood of maritime workers, and campaigned to secure the release of the Chennai Six in 2017.

Mr Jones said it was "absolutely vital that seafarers have a voice, are listened to by the industry and seen by society".

The DfT said the SHI helped shipping companies and organisations "provide targeted support where it is needed".

"Thanks to Steven’s work, the index has shone a spotlight on the impact of the pandemic on seafarers’ mental health, which has shown steady improvements since its creation," a representative said.

They said Mr Jones also raised the profile of the so-called Chennai Six, a group of British men who were jailed in India after being arrested in October 2013 on weapons charges while working as guards on a ship combating piracy in the Indian Ocean.

They said his campaigning had exposed "the injustice and the challenging conditions they faced".

The men won an appeal against their convictions in November 2017 and were given permission to leave India.

Mr Jones said he was "thrilled" to receive the medal.

"It's absolutely vital that seafarers have a voice, are listened to by the industry and seen by society," he said.

"I'm glad I am able to shine a light on the important work that seafarers do and I'll continue to champion them in the years to come."

Richard Gascoyne Kirby, Ben Owen Bramwell, Trystan Tanner and Ashley Oliver West have also been honoured

The DfT representative said Mr Jones was one of nine sailors receiving the medal.

They said four sailors who went "beyond the call of duty and put the safety of others before their own" were also being honoured.

They said Captain Richard Gascoyne Kirby, from Exeter, and his rescue boat crew - Coxswain Ben Owen Bramwell from Leicestershire, Trystan Tanner from Bicester and Bosun Ashley Oliver West from Worcester - "answered the distress call when a sinking vessel sailing by the coast of Italy issued its mayday call" and "safely rescued" more than 100 people.

Maritime minister Mike Kane said it was "fantastic to see these nine remarkable sailors receive this very special award".

"Their dedication, bravery and fortitude is truly inspiring and shows the very best of UK maritime," he said.

"I take pride in celebrating these individuals, as well as the many seafarers who make such a significant contribution to our country, both here and abroad."

The nine recipients will receive their medals on 5 November.