Terms of Use

The Short Version

In short

These terms cover imwirsa.org and MWApp, both operated by International Maritime Welfare Innovation Research and Support Association (IMWIRSA), a non-profit association established in Estonia. By using either, you agree to them. If you don't agree, please don't use the site or the app.

Last updated: 12 August 2026. This is an early version of these terms, written alongside MWApp itself — it will be refined as the platform develops.

Who this is for

MWApp is built for seafarers and the coordinators, unions and welfare organisations who support them. The website is open to anyone — seafarers, partners, researchers, journalists, or anyone curious about our work.

No account required

MWApp works without registration. Where a Trade Union or workplace-organisation code unlocks Premium services, entering that code is the only "account-like" step in the app, and it's optional.

Availability

We aim to keep MWApp and this website available, but we don't guarantee uninterrupted access. Both can go offline for maintenance, updates, or reasons outside our control — a port's Wi-Fi being one of them.

Provided as-is

MWApp and this website are provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, express or implied — including that the information is complete, accurate, or current at the moment you read it.

Not official or legal advice

Nothing in MWApp or on this website is immigration, legal, medical or safety advice. Shore Pass rules, visa requirements, port security procedures and similar matters are set by local authorities and can change without notice — always confirm with your ship's agent, your Master, or the relevant authority before relying on anything here.

Third-party places & services

Shops, pharmacies, taxi companies, seafarers' centres and other places listed in MWApp are independent of IMWIRSA. We do our best to keep listings accurate through our coordinators, but we don't control these businesses and aren't responsible for their prices, service, or conduct.

Emergencies

In a genuine emergency, always use the local emergency number (for example, 112 in much of Europe) or contact your ship directly — don't wait on an app, including this one.

What we ask of you

Please don't use MWApp or this website to break the law, harass or impersonate someone, interfere with how the app or site works, or try to extract, scrape or resell our port data in bulk without asking us first.

Ownership

The IMWIRSA name and logo, the text, design and code of this website and MWApp, and our published research (including the White Paper and Maritime Welfare Review) belong to IMWIRSA or are used with permission, unless stated otherwise. You're welcome to share and cite our published research with attribution.

What you share with us

If you send us something — a message through the contact form, a completed port questionnaire, feedback on the app — you're giving us permission to use it for the purpose you sent it for (answering you, building the relevant Port Card, improving MWApp). See our Privacy Policy for how we handle any personal data involved.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, IMWIRSA is not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of MWApp or this website — including decisions made based on port information that turned out to be outdated or incorrect, or an interaction with a third-party business or service listed in the app. This does not limit any liability that cannot be excluded under Estonian or EU law, such as liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence.