Page 51: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Sep/Oct 2018)

50 52

Liverpool Seafarers Centre’s

CEO, John Wilson, with a mem- ber of the crew of MS Black

Watch at Liverpool’s cruise line terminal seafarer center.

port, thereby greatly improving service delivery. LSC will be able cluded from attending church services, even when in port, due to to connect with a ship’s master or chief offcer while the vessel is operations on board. In the frst few weeks of 2018, LSC delivered entering a port to introduce the welfare service and supply a band- six services – an increase on the same period last year, in which width number for ongoing communication and support. This will it delivered a total of 12 services throughout the year. The Port of require all LSC staff and volunteers to sit a national examination Liverpool welcomes seafarers from all over the world, including with the Royal Yachting Association before securing hardware and from countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, India and the Phil- a license from the UK’s communications regulator Ofcom. ippines. This increased activity has ensured that LSC can provide

Another key development involves LSC’s port levy initiative spiritual support aligned to whichever Christian denomination a with shipping lines to boost funds for seafarer support. In Oc- crew member may follow – Roman Catholic, Anglican or Method- tober 2017, LSC gained permission from Peel Ports to allow a ist, for example. The important point is that LSC is able to support voluntary levy to be applied to shipping lines coming into the crews’ spiritual and emotional needs in equal measure in addition

Mersey Ports, in line with the recommendations of the Maritime to the more physical and more practical requirements of seafarers.

Labor Convention, MLC 2006: the amount shipping lines pay is LSC has its greatest connection with the Northern Irish and calculated by gross tonnage. Similar seafarers’ centers operating Irish ports of Belfast and Dublin. It works with The Mission to in ports around the world have negotiated successful port levies. Seafarers in both Belfast and Dublin, as well as with Dublin’s

The idea of a levy is proving to be a successful one and shipping Apostleship of the Sea representative. It is also in constant con- lines that currently agree to the contribution includes ACL, Seat- tact with the chaplains in both cities, sharing information about ruck Ferries, Stena Line and P&O. vessels and crew members in need of support. LSC also belongs

In 2017, LSC launched a new £40,000 ($53,000) hub at Queen to The Mission to Seafarers, which has about 280 centers around

Elizabeth II Dock, Eastham, which was opened by The Lord Lieu- the world. ICMA members operate a referral system whereby tenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead. It works in partner- they can communicate about on-going situations and fag seafar- ship with LSC headquarters in Crosby and has been supported by ers at risk anywhere in the world.

donations from Essar Group’s Stanlow oil refnery in Ellesmere

Port, Peel Ports, the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, proceeds

Vision for the Future from Mersey River Pilots raffe and the Mersey Maritime Indus- The working life of a seafarer is hard and at times dangerous. Sea- try Awards raffe, the Voluntary Aid Club Dinner and The Phoebe faring can be a lonely and isolating job, and crew frequently do not

Wortley Charitable Trust. The new center enables LSC to maximize have people to talk to. LSC aims to exercise core Christian values the support it gives to seafarers docking within the various berths of love, care and respect through its outreach work. It also aims to on the Manchester Ship Canal and follows the model of the Liv- show seafarers from around the world that Merseyside cares and un- erpool base in offering seafarers practical and emotional support derstands the challenges they face. About 95 percent of everything as well as a lounge, Internet, gaming facilities and transportation. consumed in the UK is transported by sea and the country relies on

LSC is further stepping up its efforts to deliver church services the silent and invisible army of brave men and women who crew on board vessels after reporting a rise in demand for spiritual sup- ships to support its economy and way of life. As a sign of its grati- port from crew members. It now offers a wide range of such sup- tude, LSC is planning to extend its network across the north-west port, including church services, sacrament and blessings directly UK region, throughout Merseyside and Cumbria, so that it can serve on board vessels. Many seafarers on cruise vessels are only per- on average 10 to 20 percent more seafarers each year and is look- mitted up to two hours shore leave, making it diffcult for them to ing to expand its entire operation with more volunteers and salaried attend church services and crew on merchant vessels are also pre- staff in order to achieve that goal. www.liverpoolseafarerscentre.org www.maritimelogisticsprofessional.com 51

I