QVSR Seafarers Centres, part of the Seafarers Mission of the Methodist Church, is delighted to unveil the refurbished Felixstowe Seafarers Centre with a ceremony on Friday, July 5.
The refurbishment project has cost in the region of £200,000 and the main source of funding has come via the Department for Transport (DfT) working in partnership with the Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB). This funding sees the QVSR Felixstowe Seafarers Centre modernised to a standard that makes it one of the best examples of seafarer welfare facilities in Europe.
The funding comes as part of the Government’s commitment to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC2006), which seeks to improve and develop maritime welfare services across the world. The newly refurbished centre offers 24 hour access with a new lounge as part of the improvements.
Alexander Campbell QVSR SC, CEO said:
“QVSR is delighted to be at the helm of improving our seafarers centres welfare facilities here in the UK. Seafarers centres need to maximise their use of technology to provide the very best connectivity for seafarers visiting our ports – this is what we are doing here at Felixstowe.
There is a need to provide modern spaces of the highest standard for seafarers to relax in. We believe that the QVSR Felixstowe Seafarers Centre sets the standards for such facilities; we want seafarers on ships berthing in the UK to experience the very best facilities and Felixstowe now has a first class seafarers centre. The provision of 24 hour access at seafarers centres is vital, as ships and crew can arrive in port at any time. The QVSR Felixstowe Seafarers Centre will have a 24 hour seafarers lounge as part of the improvements.”
QVSR is fully committed to driving forward with a programme of improvements that will see our seafarers centres here in the UK amongst the very best in the world. We would like to thank DfT, MNWB and Hutchison Ports for their support in making our vision a reality.”
Stuart Rivers, CEO of MNWB, which is the umbrella charity for the UK Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets that represents 45 welfare charities across the maritime sector, said:
“Much hard work has gone into the refurbishment of this centre to make it a first-class facility.
Thousands of seafarers spend months away from their families working at sea which can be a very lonely and isolated place, with limited access to connectivity. But having a place to go when they visit a UK port, like Felixstowe, ensures seafarers can enjoy some much-needed downtime. And the 24-hour open access is a real perk!
“Welfare facilities for seafarers need constant review and this project will undoubtedly improve seafarers’ welfare. With that said, we are delighted to support it.”
