Maritime Charity Column: boosting seafarer welfare work, by Stuart Rivers, chief executive at the Merchant Navy Welfare Board

Chief executive at the Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) Stuart Rivers outlines a new initiative coming into force in the UK in 2025, which will boost revenue for seafarer welfare facilities in ports.

MARITIME CHARITY COLUMN

As we brace for the year ahead, it's pleasing to see a new initiative come into force which is a major boost for seafarers.

We have teamed up with Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK's largest and leading port operator, which has strengthened financial support for seafarer welfare facilities at its ports.

ABP has extended its vessel booking system (PAVIS) to a network of 21 ports across Britain, which will allow agents booking vessels into other ABP ports to contribute to the valued welfare work we support. For several years, this approach has been in place at ABP's Humber ports and has been well received.

It's great to see that this initiative, which will generate a significant amount of money to be invested into welfare facilities, commenced on New Year's Day.

At the time, maritime minister Mike Kane said: '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'.

I had the pleasure of meeting with Mr Kane, along with my chair Captain Andrew Cassels, at the end of last year to discuss our role as an international leader in welfare provision for seafarers and how initiatives like the one that ABP have adopted will provide long term sustainability for seafarers' welfare.

The minister and his team appear highly invested in the welfare of our seafarers, which is very encouraging. We will continue to develop our relationship on behalf of the maritime charities sector with the government and the Department for Transport.

While we are only a short time into 2025, we have made good strides already in continuing to drive welfare standards but, as always, there is still plenty to do.

The Maritime Charity Column is a regular feature in the Nautilus Telegraph. Submissions are invited from a range of organisations by the Telegraph editor.