Associated British Ports (ABP) has announced a measure to strengthen financial support for seafarer welfare facilities at its ports.
For several years ABP’s Humber ports have had a positive default function in their vessel booking system (PAVIS) to allow shipping agents to pay an optional contribution in support of the work of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) and its constituent charities.
ABP has now committed to extend this positive default across ABP’s network of 21 ports all around Britain, allowing agents booking vessels into other ABP ports a simple opportunity to contribute to the MNWB and much-valued seafarer welfare facilities.
This change will take effect from 1 January 2025.
The Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) is a UK charity that promotes the welfare of seafarers in the merchant navy and fishing fleets. It supports port welfare committees, coordinates welfare initiatives, and provides funding and grants for welfare organizations.
The MNWB oversees 15 Port Welfare Committees (PWCs) and a National Seafarers’ Welfare Board in Gibraltar, all focused on improving welfare in their respective ports.
The PWCs include members from the MCA, Port Health, unions, shipowners and agents, port owners, and welfare charities, making them an effective body for positive change in ports.
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Adam Northover, ABP’s Marine Designated Person and the company’s technical lead for marine matters said: “In the modern marine environment where ships are facing shorter turnarounds and smaller crews it is not always possible for seafarers – the unsung heroes behind the 95 per cent of UK trade that moves by water – to get ashore or take shore leave.
“This makes the work of the charities and seafarer centres even more important to the welfare of seafarers visiting our ports. We are proud that the seafarer welfare facilities in the Humber that have been supported by a positive default contribution have been used as examples by the Merchant Navy Welfare Board.”
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Maritime Minister, Mike Kane, said: “I have said before that we will not leave seafarers behind, and I am delighted to see ABP strengthen their support for the Merchant Navy Welfare Board and its charities. Seafarers deserve our upmost respect and it is great to see the positive default contribution for welfare facilities be extended to ports across the country.”
Last month, ABP acquired 21 acres of land on the western side of the Port of Immingham in an off-market transaction.
