Around 20,000 seafarers pass through DP World Southampton’s container terminal each year, many of whom go for months at a time without speaking to family members or even stepping off the vessel they’re sailing with. To provide sailors with a rest area while ashore, DP World Southampton has donated land at the end of its 207 berth to the Seafarers Centre enabling a drop-in centre to be installed.
The facility has been built in addition to the main Seafarers Centre in Queens Terrace in Southampton because a lot of crew members do not even have the time to visit the main centre or the city.
Equipped with computers, telephones, wi-fi, internet access and television, the drop-in centre is a small comfortable facility providing seafarers with the opportunity to contact their families, have a change of scenery or just relax away from their ships.
Chris Lewis, Managing Director, DP World Southampton, said:
“While at sea, seafarers face all elements in what can be described as an unforgiving environment. With vessel stays in port being brief we are delighted to be able to provide an area for crew members to contact their family and relax off board while at the container terminal.”
The drop-in centre has been funded by The Merchant Navy Welfare Board, Ivitta and Centres for Seafarers. Centres for Seafarers is a registered charity and is an ecumenical collaboration between The Apostleship of the Sea, The Sailors Society and The Mission to Seafarers.