It looks after the welfare of seamen and their children, grants scholarships to the dependents of seamen, settles disputes between seamen-employer and between seamen among themselves, maintains 300 bedded hostel for seamen, maintains 20 shops around the Seamen  Hostel.

History:

Before 1944, the welfare of Merchant Seamen’s both Indian and Non Indian was being looked after by voluntary organizations. In the year 1944, the then Government of India took over the responsibility for organizing and financing the welfare schemes of the Merchant Seamen’s Community on permanent basis. The Directorate of Seamen Welfare was established under the then Govt. of India in 1945 to look after the seamen and solve their problems. The Directorate had two offices one at Chattagong and the other at Karachi. The Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment was set up in 1971, after amalgamation of the Directorate of Seamen Welfare, National Manpower Council and National Employment Bureau. The office was headed by an Assistant Director till 1977. Thereafter a Deputy Director was appointed as Incharge of Directorate of Seamen Welfare in 1984 with the view to revitalize the organization. Thereafter Government appointed a Director to Head the Directorate of Seamen Welfare. The post of Director which was officially transferred from the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment Islamabad to Karachi in the year 1984 was abolished due to economy measure and at present an Assistant Director is incharge of Directorate.  Beside performing all the duties and functions, the Assistant Director  is Chairman, Secretary and Member of various committees.

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