‘Overstretched and under-resourced’: the corporate neglect of port welfare services for seafarers

In the context of the provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, this paper draws on new qualitative data collected from seafarers’ welfare centres, charities involved in seafarers’ welfare service provision, seafarers, port chaplains and seafarers’ centre volunteers. It examines the kinds of port-based welfare services currently provided to seafarers, and whether these meet seafarers’ expectations/needs. It provides new data on the perspectives of chaplains and stakeholder organisations in relation to the provision of seafarers’ services and starkly reveals the contemporary funding challenges experienced by these individuals/groups. The paper critically appraises the current reliance by ports, shipping companies, and government entities on the provision of free welfare services for seafarers. It concludes that Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, guidance relating to the funding of seafarers’ welfare services requires strengthening and that the funding of seafarers’ welfare services in ports across the world requires remedial action.