Following a request from Mission to Seafarers (MtS) and Humber Seafarers' Service (HSS), the Merchant Navy Welfare Board (MNWB) recently published a seafarers' welfare evaluation report for the port of Goole. 

The study evaluates seafarers' welfare needs and port welfare services available in and around the Port of Goole. The study takes into consideration the seafarers' centre in Goole, named 'Goole Mariners Club' and the forthcoming retirement of MtS Port Chaplain Revd David Whateley, the driving force behind the club. 

The aim of the report is to provide Humber Seafarers' Service and its trustee organisations (MtS, AOS and Sailors' Society) with the information necessary to plan seafarers' welfare services and facilities for the Port of Goole.  It assesses the Goole Mariners Club, which is run by the Goole Christian Mariners' Association (GCMA) and offers a range of options for the future.    The Humber Port Welfare Committee will be invited to comment on the report.

Goole is considered Britain's premier inland port.  Situated at the heart of the country's transport infrastructure on the River Ouse, it is some 80km from the open sea and 2km from the M62.  Only a half-hour's drive is required to reach the heart of West and South Yorkshire and the North Midlands and North West are within two hours drive. The port has rail connections to many berths and canal connections to West and South Yorkshire.  The port also has a wide range of facilities for handling unitised, bulk and general cargo with a particular strength in containers, steel and timber. In recent years the port has attracted high traffic levels (over 1,000 ship arrivals per annum) and Associated British Ports (ABP) has invested significantly in Goole to ensure the port continues to offer some of the most advanced facilities for both general and specialist cargo-handling.  

The Board is extremely grateful to all those who participated in the collaborative report, in particular ABP, GCMA, MtS and AOS.  Reports are available to members on request enquiries@mnwb.org.uk.