Durban Port launches SA’s first welfare committee
As the first port in South Africa to form a Port Welfare Committee, Durban will be leading the way as part of this global initiative to improve the overall well-being of seafarers.
A high profile launch was held in Durban on Wednesday, 29 May, to formally inaugurate the newly formed Durban Port Welfare Committee (DPWC) to develop a more collaborative and holistic approach to providing support to seafarers visiting the city through the port.
The event included a presentation from the International Port Welfare Partnership (IPWP) and addresses by deputy mayor councillor Fawzia Peer, IPWP project manager and Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) deputy chief executive Sharon Coveney and chair of the Durban Seafarers Mission Peter Cottrell.
As the first port in South Africa to form a Port Welfare Committee, Durban will be leading the way as part of this global initiative to improve the overall well-being of seafarers. The DPWC seeks to supplement and build on the excellent service already provided in the port by the voluntary organisations and will establish a forum where the work of all maritime organisations and will establish a forum where the work of all maritime organisations with a vested interest in seafarers’ welfare can be coordinated. The DPWC will bring together key representatives from the port, maritime community, local and provincial government and non-profit organisations to support and improve seafarers’ welfare facilities and services.
“The men and women who live and work at sea are often away from their families and friends for many months, working long hours at demanding jobs, landing in foreign countries for only short periods of time. We are delighted that Durban as a major Southern Hemisphere Port has participated in this programme. A content, fit and healthy seafarer is a safer and more productive seafarer,” shared Sharon.
An award was presented to the Port of Durban for support of seafarer welfare and the inauguration of the DPWC. Special awards were presented to the acting provincial secretary of the South African Transport And Allied Workers’ Union, Thulani Dlamini and to the Durban Port Chaplains for their outstanding support to seafarers facing hardship.
“Although we already have much great work being done for the welfare of seafarers in the port of Durban, this initiative offers us a unique opportunity to formalise relationships and to establish a collaborative platform to better serve the needs of the 60 000 or so seafarers who visit our port each year,” said Peter.
The event also included an IPWP Ambassadors Training Conference with representatives present from ports within South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania who are interested in starting welfare projects within their own ports, together with the regional co-coordinators of six mission organisations who are involved in seafarers welfare. The DPWC promises to be of great value to the port, the maritime industry and the country and will complement the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy of South Africa.
Deputy mayor Fawzia said that this was an iconic milestone for Durban’s maritime economy, as the largest and busiest ports in sub-Saharan Africa. “The welfare of the people who make it happen is therefore significant. In a dynamic maritime environment, seafarers are facing new and increased occupational risks and psychological challenges. Therefore it is evident that there is a rising demand for the services of seafarer welfare organisations. These organisations deal with complex issues that are relevant to the seafarers of today as well as the challenges that they face. We are grateful to the DPWC and eThekwini recognises and fully supports its important mission. The eThekwini Maritime Cluster is set up to work with all the all actors within the broader maritime sector and I will request my officials in the economic development unit to explore how they can forge a valuable relationship with the DPWC and work together to enhance the experience for seafarers in Durban,” she said.
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