Caption: Its all smiles as key representative from the maritime community witness Government Minister Joe Holiday (tallest man centre) officially opens one of two new seafarers' welfare facilities in Gibraltar

When Apostleship of the Sea (Gibraltar) contacted its fellow organisation in the UK to enquire after help in providing seafarers' welfare they were put in contact with the Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB).  At that time few would have predicted how close the partnership would become. Following a visit by MNWB Chief Executive, Capt David Parsons, the Gibraltar Port Authority (GPA) agreed that the establishment of a MNWB Gibraltar Port Welfare Committee (PWC), comprised of all the key maritime organisations, would prove beneficial to the port and visiting seafarers.

Under the Chairmanship of Captain Jimmy Ferro, the Gibraltar PWC has made huge strides forward.  In 2008 the Committee requested MNWB conduct an evaluation study of the seafarers' welfare facilities and services in Gibraltar.  The Committee took the report recommendations for the future and achieved the following:

• The Mediterranean Mission to Seafarers, Apostleship of the Sea (Gibraltar) and Sailors' Society are working closer together than ever before and have improved their 'front line' seafarers' welfare facilities and services all across Gibraltar.
• Gibraltar held the first Nautical Institute accredited MNWB Ship Welfare Visitors Course to be conducted outside the UK with numerous volunteers from Apostleship of the Sea (Gibraltar) and Mediterranean Mission to Seafarers attending. Another course will take place at the end of the year.
• Created a professional Gibraltar Port Information Leaflet, designed specifically for the hundreds of thousands of visiting seafarers. Gibraltar is the first port in the world to publish its port information leaflet on the Gibraltar Port Authority website under 'Seafarers' Welfare'.
• Successfully used an MNWB grant to improve seafarers' welfare facilities throughout the port.
• Local benefactor Mr Maurice Stagnetto of Lewis Stagnetto Ltd has forged a partnership with the Mediterranean Mission to Seafarers and helped refurbish the 'Flying Angel' seafarers centre at North Mole. Maurice quotes "Lewis Stagnetto Ltd has a long history of welcoming seafarers to Gibraltar and is extremely happy to work in partnership with the Mission to Seafarers and Gibraltar Port Authority to continue that tradition."
• Thanks to the support of Cammell Laird an additional seafarers' welfare facility, in the form of a Seafarers' Reception and Communications Room, has also been created adjacent to the Dry Docks at South Mole. Mr Joseph Corvelli, Executive Chairman of CL said "Working in partnership with the MNWB Port Welfare Committee we have created a smart, modern and much needed welfare facility that will be of huge benefit to the crewmembers of visiting ships, especially those remaining onboard during refit."
• On opening the 2 facilities the Government Minister for the port, Mr Joe Holiday stated "Gibraltar has always offered a very warm welcome to seafarers from all over the world. The new and much improved seafarers welfare facilities that I officially open today will undoubtedly enhance that reputation."
• Capt David Parsons, MNWB Chief Executive stated 'When you consider that approximately 250 cruise ships with potentially over 200,000 crewmembers visit North Mole every year, not including numerous other visiting ships, many undergoing refit at South Mole, the MNWB is only too pleased to support the new and refurbished seafarers' welfare facilities in Gibraltar"
• The recently completed project has been a Committee effort, led by Capt Ferro MBE and Mr Robert Goldwin MBE. A project which all seafarers, including the many servicemen and women who visit Gibraltar, will undoubtedly benefit. Thanks to their efforts seafarers from all over the world will be able to contact their loved ones and maximise the precious little leisure time they have ashore.
• The MNWB Gibraltar PWC will continue to meet 3 times per annum and oversee seafarers' welfare.