Global · Case study

The Mission to Seafarers, Seafarer Welfare Services in Ports

Global (over 200 ports in 50 countries)Ongoing

The Mission to Seafarers, a mission agency of the Anglican Communion founded in 1856, works in over 200 ports across 50 countries, including ports in several DMCs (Mission to Seafarers, n.d.). The network provides welfare services to seafarers from all nationalities and faiths, aligned with MLC 2006 principles of non discrimination.

Services delivered by Mission to Seafarers include, among others, seafarer centers providing rest space, refreshments, computers, and communication facilities; ship visiting by chaplains and volunteers to seafarers onboard vessels; chaplaincy and religious services; practical support including transport to shore amenities; and WeCare, a training program launched in 2019 for seafarers on topics such as money management and safe use of social media (Mission to Seafarers, n.d.; Mission to Seafarers, 2019).

The Mission to Seafarers works with port authorities. In Singapore, it runs one of the seafarers' lounges that the Maritime and Port Authority operates with local seafarers' missions and maritime unions (MPA Singapore, n.d.). In the ASEAN region, the Mission to Seafarers lists ports in Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Manila (the Philippines), Batam and Belawan (Indonesia), and Yangon (Myanmar) (Mission to Seafarers, n.d.).

Transferability

For DMC ports, Mission to Seafarers is an established welfare organization that ports can work with, rather than building welfare services alone. The case shows services for visiting crews, not programs for port employees. Transferable elements include, among others, partnership with established welfare organizations, coordination through port welfare boards as recommended in MLC 2006 Guideline B4.4.3, and provision of infrastructure (centers, transport) complemented by welfare organization service delivery.

Sources

All information used for this case study was based on publicly available resources.