Seafarers centre is a shore haven

SAILORS visiting the Port of Richards Bay are thankful to have a ‘home from home’

Arriving at the harbour after long weeks at sea, thousands of miles from their friends and families, seafarers often suffer from loneliness, fatigue, isolation and work-related problems.

This is where the Mission to Seafarers steps in, providing care and love in a secure environment, catering to the practical and especially the spiritual needs of the sailors.

The Mission, located next to the port’s west gate, has been here since the early 1980s, providing a comfortable and friendly seafarers’ centre that is open seven days a week

It forms part of the global maritime family of charities which offers help and hope to seafarers in 260 ports and 71 countries.

‘Integral to our Mission is spiritual support and for this we visit seafarers daily on board their ships and we also meet with them at the centre during their off-time,’ says Richards Bay Combined Seafarers Club Chaplain, Mark Classen.

Chapel

‘We are blessed with a beautiful chapel aptly named after the 3rd century Patron Saint of Seafarers, St Nicholas, and we hold regular church services there on a Sunday evening and, on request, also on board ships.

‘Additional ways of spiritual support are listening, counselling and prayer, which happen almost daily because of the loneliness and isolation that they experience.

‘After visits, we leave them with Bibles and other Christian literature, a source of comfort as they continue their contracts.

‘Our chaplains are also well-trained in trauma counselling, and are qualified to handle any major incident such as shipwrecks and piracy.’

The Mission centre offers:

• A mini-shop which holds food stuffs, toiletries, gifts and souvenirs, and also offers currency exchange

• Internet, wi-fi and airtime

• A lounge area with two TVs

• A games room with pool tables, foosball, table tennis and dartboards

• A pub

• A library

• Entertainment in the form of monthly music evenings

• A scheduled bus service, to and from ships.

Public praise

‘We at the Mission extend our heartfelt thanks to the community for your wonderful donations,’ says Classen.

‘Please continue to support us through your time, money and prayers.’

Anyone wanting to assist or make a donation can contact Chaplain, Mark Classen, on 082 7445554.