History of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board's service to seafarers

The history of co-ordinating the nautical charities caring for merchant seafarers in the United Kingdom, began in 1927 when the British Council for the Welfare of the Mercantile Marine (BCWMM) was established. This was intended to promote closer co-operation between charities and other organisations, including ship owners and the trade unions, providing welfare, many of which traced their histories back to the philanthropic days of the Victorian era.

The objectives of the BCWMM were to:

• initiate and encourage schemes for the welfare of the merchant service.
• co-ordinate and develop local welfare efforts and further the provision of recreational and medical facilities (for British seafarers) in all parts of the World.
• consider schemes for securing the provision of funds for the welfare of seafarers.

Whilst the BCWMM enjoyed limited fortunes, it never properly gained the support of all the charities. Most notably, it was successful however in forming the first Port Health Committees - predecessors of today’s Port Welfare Committees. Equally importantly, the BCWMM attended and supported the ILO (International Labour Organisation). The 1938 ILO Conference set down ‘Recommendations on Seamen’s Welfare in Ports’. As a direct consequence of this, the ‘Seamen’s Welfare Board’ (SWB) was established in October 1940 to succeed the BCWMM.

The Seamen’s Welfare Board was very active throughout the War years and the immediate post-war period. It was administered by the Government and chaired by the Joint Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and National Service. Its prime function was to advise the Ministry on questions concerning the welfare of all seafarers in British ports and the crews of British ships in overseas ports. It owned and managed a large number of hostels and clubs, within the UK, providing temporary homes to seamen, This included many of those displaced from the occupied countries. The provision of clubs and hostels necessitated the forming of Port Welfare Committees to provide local expertise in support of these establishments.

In 1943 the Ministry of Labour & National Service and the Minister of War Transport set up a committee to examine the issues of Seamen’s Welfare in ports. This was chaired by Mr. H. Graham White MP and enjoyed membership from the ship owners, trade unions, Shipping Federation and King George’s Fund for Sailors. It consulted all parts of the merchant shipping and fishing industries as well as many of the nautical charities. The findings were published in 1945.

The completion of the report, coinciding with the end of hostilities, set the direction for the future. The principal recommendation was the establishment of a board whose aims and objectives were to include the:-

• promotion of co-operation between all persons, associations, societies, or other bodies whose objects are, or include, the provision for seafarers of residential, or non-residential, clubs or other centres of recreation; the provision for seafarers, or their widows, or dependants of educational or religious facilities; the provision for seafarers (including the aged or disabled), or their widows, or dependants of financial or other assistance; the general welfare of seafarers and their dependants.
• drawing up of minimum standards of shore accommodation for seafarers; advice on the provision of new facilities, or the adequacy or otherwise of existing facilities; generally to act as an Advisory Body in connection there with.

The report also recommended that the charity should have statute powers and government funding. As a result, the initial funds came from subscriptions collected among the many British ship owners employing non-domiciled seamen in lieu of National Insurance Contributions. The timing of the Board’s inception, in fact, coincided with the post war National Insurance Act. Another source of funding came from fines imposed on seafarers for disciplinary offences. This source of income was equally divided between the Board and the Royal Seamen’s Pension Fund (the latter providing regular grants to British ratings, in financial need, in lieu of a pension). The Board’s share covered all its administration costs. The Merchant Navy Welfare Board ultimately came into existence, once the Act was in place, on 31 March 1948. Members of the Council of Management were drawn from the ship owners, seafarers’ trade unions, nautical charities and Government.

The Port Welfare Committees were transferred to the Board’s administration and charities caring for merchant seafarers and fishermen were encouraged to become Constituent Members. Most subsequently did so. An active interest in the welfare of seafarers aboard British ships abroad was also taken. At one point, the MNWB had a full time representative based in New York! All the assets of the Seamen’s Welfare Board - the hostels and clubs - were also transferred. The Board immediately set about examining its properties. A reduction in the need for such accommodation, following the War, meant that some were now surplus to requirements whilst many of the others required modernisation. Surplus premises were disposed of and a programme of refurbishment or replacement was set up to upgrade hostels to hotels.

Ultimately, the Board had hotels in many of the major ports, including London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Middlesbrough, South Shields, Cardiff, Southampton and Swansea. It also had clubs in Avonmouth, Milford Haven and the Isle of Grain. This was at a time when Britain had a large merchant fleet regularly returning to their home ports. The hotels provided accommodation, at a very modest tariff, where the seafarers and their families could stay. Some of the guests were nautical students attending courses at the local colleges. The Clubs, too, had a key role in providing recreational facilities for the crews of the ships, some of which, even in those days, were on comparatively fast turn rounds. This included film shows, dancing, snooker and, inevitably, a well stocked bar and shop.

Both the rapid changes in the British Merchant Navy from the 1970s onwards, and in the general nature of international shipping, had a catastrophic impact on the hotels. Crew changes and refits increasingly took place abroad. Conventional cargo ships and tramps were replaced by container vessels and bulk carriers, often reducing turn round times from days to hours, all ships, especially tankers grew in size, almost out of recognition, whilst the sizes of crews on all but passengers ships diminished dramatically. At the same time many British seafarers became redundant, to be replaced by lower cost foreign labour.

As the hotels became less utilised, it became necessary to financially support them from the Board’s funds. This was clearly unsustainable in a climate that was only going to worsen. Over a comparatively short period all but the London hotel were sold. The clubs at Avonmouth and Milford Haven were later transferred to the ‘missions’ whilst that on the Isle of Grain was closed.

The other factor that changed the fortunes of the Board was the withdrawal of Government support, both in providing funding and as members of the Council. The funding was withdrawn in the mid 1970s, which was a severe blow. This decision was due in part, at least, to the reducing number of UK seafarers. Nonetheless it went against the spirit of the ILO conventions and recommendations. It was therefore fortuitous that the sale of the hotels happened in tandem, as this provided capital that was invested to provide the main income source for the Board’s continuing work.

Though the Merchant Navy Hotel in Lancaster Gate, London had been retained, by 2001 it too was giving rise to concern despite the constant efforts made to keep facilities up to date. National and international events caused a dramatic downturn in visitors to the UK and, in particular, the London. Sadly the Hotel was not immune to the effects of this and the Board agreed, with great sadness, that it should be sold for redevelopment. The doors finally closed to guests on 22nd December 2002 and the Board relocated to Southampton a month later.

On the positive side, the sale of the Hotel enabled the Board to greatly increase its investment holdings and consequently its annual income. This has enabled it to provide substantially more support to its Constituent member charities at a time when resources are under considerable pressure. Surplus income is now utilised towards assisting funding capital projects (refurbishment or replacement of facilities) evaluation studies, training needs and provision of caseworkers.

The eyes and ears of the MNWB are its sixteen Port Welfare Committees (PWCs). These are situated throughout the United Kingdom, based in and around the major ports. Membership consists of ship owners’ representatives, often these days the shipping agents, the seafarers’ trade unions and local representatives of the voluntary societies. In addition, members come from the port authorities, port health, police, pilots, local authorities and other organisations concerned with the welfare of seafarers. Matters discussed can be concerns of a local nature, for example restricted access to a quay, or wider issues that affect seafarers nationally and even internationally, such as the provision better health advice to visiting seafarers. Although the main purpose of each PWC is to discuss matters of common interest, there are clearly enormous strengths to be gained from the opportunity for local organisations to network. An item of interest, both locally and to the Board, is that of capital grant applications. Members of the PWCs are therefore asked to consider local capital applications to see if any similar projects are planned, or whether other organisations have any suggestions. The Board itself provides a number of grants but views of the PWCs are taken into account by all the funding charities. A senior member of the Board’s staff acts as secretary and attends all the PWC meetings, reporting directly to the Chief Executive on all significant matters. The PWCs cover the entire coastline of the UK. More recently, in 2003, the Board established a Committee in Gibraltar and this has become very proactive in reviewing the welfare facilities and services in this important port.

Since 1997 the Board has chaired Working Groups with membership drawn from among its Constituents. These groups provide a partnership forum to review the needs of seafarers and promote best practice. They cover grants to other organisations, financial support to seafarers and their dependents, seafarers’ retirement homes and port based welfare facilities and services. Each Group publishes and updates reports which include recommendations.

Each year the Board reviews and agrees its overall Objectives and a Strategic Plan. This Plan is then circulated to the Constituent members and the Port Welfare Committees for comment. The Board takes a proactive role within the MN Charity network. Relevant issues are examined regularly by Working Groups. These are chaired by the Board, with membership taken from its Constituents and outside expertise is utilised when appropriate. These Groups help to ensure that the nautical charities continue to evolve with the industry and social changes and provide those in need with the highest standards of care in the most effective way. At the same useful information is disseminated both to its members and via the PWCs. The Board has long been an active member of the International Committee on Seafarers Welfare. This organisation promotes the port based welfare recommendations published by the ILO, many of which are based on the UK model.

The Merchant Navy Welfare Board has, for almost 60 years, been a forum where those whose interest is the welfare of seafarers can work in harmony. These efforts will continue to evolve to meet the many changes taking place affecting both the serving and retired seafarers. The Council of Management and staff accept the challenges and look forward to their continuing contribution towards the welfare of seafarers.
Captain D.A. Parsons MNI, Chief Executive

Chairmen

• R.J. Jones 2010-to date
• E.R. Richardson 2009-2010
• Capt T Crookall MBE 2000-2009
• P.G. McEwen 1994-2000
• W.G.D. Ropner 1980-1994
• H.F. Spanton 1966-1980 (Died in office)
• W.C. How 1948-1966

Chief Executive

• Capt D.A. Parsons MNI 2004 to Date

General Secretary

• Capt D.A. Parsons MNI 1994-2004
• J.I.K. Walker 1979-1994
• R.E. Haerle 1960-1979
• L. Russell Clark M CHI 1951-1960
• W. M. Burns 1948-1951 (Died in office)

General Manager

• Capt. W.J.M. Teale 1969-1985
• L. Russell Clark 1960-1969