Mission to Seafarers Victoria (MtSV)

On this #WorldMaritimeDay, we celebrate the vital role the maritime industry plays in keeping our world connected. With 99% of Australia's international trade facilitated by shipping, Port of Melbourne is proud to support the theme "Navigating The Future: Safety First!", while boosting Victoria's economy and contributing to global trade. We look forward to continuing to work with our tenants, shipping lines, and other stakeholders to ensure safe and sustainable shipping. #maritime #navigatingthefuture #safetyfirst #imo

The Mission to Seafarers Victoria thank the Melbourne branch of the Company of Master Mariners of Australia for their continued financial support of the Mission in 2024. Ongoing financial  support from the shipping industry is critical to enable us to continue to respond to the welfare needs of seafarers visiting Melbourne.

Viva Energy Australia is a proud supporter of Mission to Seafarers Victoria (MtSV), an organisation renowned for its dedication to the maritime community. Their exceptional work provides critical support and care to seafarers who spend extended periods away from their families. Neil JAMES FCA, CEO of MTS Victoria said “The Mission to Seafarers Victoria Inc. is a specialist welfare and support service for seafarers visiting Melbourne, operating 365 days a year. Support from Viva Energy will assist MTS Victoria to provide Seafarers with access to welfare services and resources, such as free Wi-Fi to reconnect with family and friends.”  Richard Xin, Viva Energy’s General Manager Specialties, Marine & Defence, stated "As a leading supplier of marine fuels in Australia, we are delighted to be partnering with Mission to Seafarers Victoria.  They play a crucial role in providing vital care and assistance to seafarers, ensuring they receive the compassion and resources they need whilst far from home. It also demonstrates Viva Energy’s commitment to have a positive impact in the communities where we operate and to support programs that seek to improve access to community services.” We look forward to working together to further their important mission and support the maritime community. #MaritimeSupport #SeafarerWelfare #Marine

September 3 marks the anniversary of the sinking of the first Allied merchant navy vessel during World War 2 on September 3 ,1939 and is Merchant Navy Day. A day we remember the contribution and sacrifice the Merchant Navy made during the wars. One in eight Australian merchant seafarers sacrificed their lives during World War 2 to maintain supplies of goods vital to the war effort. This was a casualty rate higher than those suffered by any of the armed forces. The merchant navy badge was issued to seafarers as many merchant navy crewman had no uniforms and the badge was worn by the seafarers while in civilian clothing to identify themselves as merchant seamen and avoid shirker accusations.

Critical to navigational safety is seafarer welfare. Ports Victoria recognise that positive mental health and wellbeing are essential to every seafarer and their fellow crew as they foster confidence, motivation, teamwork, efficiency and safety onboard. The challenges faced by seafarers are unique and often daunting. Long periods away from home, physically demanding tasks, and emotional isolation can lead to anxiety, depression, and, tragically, suicide. The Mission to Seafarers Victoria believe in the power of proactive support to improve mental health and wellbeing of seafarers. Poor seafarer welfare also puts our marine and coastal environments at risk. Over 60% of maritime accidents are caused by human error and these accidents can not only result in the loss of human life they can have a major impact on the environment with the potential for ships to spill large amounts of oil killing sea and bird life or damaging sensitive reefs. Positive mental health and wellbeing is essential to every seafarer and ship owner for their continued improvement of efficiency and safety on board. We thank Ports Victoria for their continued financial support and recognition of the importance of seafarer welfare in navigational safety. Navigational safety is at the heart of what Ports Victoria does.

Within the shared duties across the people and services that support safe shipping in and out of Victoria’s ports, Ports Victoria recognises the unique situation of the seafarers onboard the ships servicing the needs for our State and Nation. Their welfare is our shared value and it binds our relationship with Mission to Seafarers Victoria (MtSV), and the admiration for the important work they continue to do. Our conversation this week with Ports Victoria CEO Craig Walker and CFO Jacinta Mackey with Melbourne Mission to Seafarers CEO Neil JAMES FCA and Chair John Lines AM was around the theme of what else can we do together to enhance the experience for seafarers visiting Melbourne.

Protecting our Marine Environment The recent crash of a container vessel into the Baltimore bridge highlights both the human tragedy and the economic disaster that a vessel can do. It is estimated that over 60% of marine accidents are the result of human error. Safe vessel operations depend on crew who are both mentally and physically fit for duty. Mentally healthy seafarers working in an environment that proactively supports their wellbeing are less likely to cause accidents, injuries or other issues that can compromise the safety of the vessel. That why we focus on improving the wellbeing and the mental health of seafarers through our ship visiting program, helping to facilitate shore leave and connecting them online so they can connect with their family and friends. Positive mental health and wellbeing is essential to every seafarer and ship owner for their continued improvement of efficiency and safety on board and for every Australian for the protection of our marine environment, and to keep our international trading routes open and cost effective

The Mission to Seafarers has published their Q2 2024 Seafarers Happiness Index, which showed a continued positive start to 2024. The results reveal a positive trend across several areas of seafarer happiness covered by the survey, thanks to factors such as shore leave, wages, crew interaction, workload and welfare. However, there are still areas that need to be worked on, with satisfaction declining in areas such as connectivity, food and health & fitness. The Mission to Seafarers is working with industry partners to address the many issues that continue to affect the wellbeing of seafarers, as well as providing direct support for seafarers through its global network of seafarers’ centres and ship visits, chaplains, staff and volunteers, and its digital solutions, such as its ‘Happy at Sea’ app for seafarers The Mission to Seafarers is extremely grateful to Idwal , NorthStandard and Inmarsat for their continued support. Read more via: https://lnkd.in/erpGjh-F #SHI #SeafarersHappinessIndex #Seafarers #Maritime #Shipping #HappyAtSeaApp

The Mission to Seafarers Victoria thanks the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and its Trustees for the financial support provided, over many years, that enables the Mission to care for the wellbeing of seafarers. To minimize costs, shipping companies typically hire crew members from some of the poorest countries. People who will work in extremely difficult conditions out of economic necessity. Their jobs typically require them to be away from home from seven to 12 months of the year at a time, working long hours for poor pay in sometimes dangerous conditions. Food may be scarce on the ships, and their employers may be behind in paying them. Or their employers may bar them from returning home for family funerals or other important events and as a result their wellbeing and mental health can suffer. Poor seafarer welfare not only puts them at risk it also puts our marine and coastal environments at risk. Over 60% of maritime accidents are caused by human error and these accidents can not only result in the loss of human life they can have a major impact on the environment with the potential for ships to spill large amounts of oil killing sea and bird life or damaging sensitive reefs. Positive mental health and wellbeing is essential to every seafarer for safety on board and for every Australian for the protection of our marine environment. The Mission to Seafarers Victoria Inc. is a specialist welfare and support service for seafarers visiting Melbourne operating 365 days a year that aims to improve the mental health and welfare of all seafarers visiting Melbourne through a range of services. These include visiting seafarers on ships in port to check on their welfare and mental health. We also help to facilitate shore leave to give seafarers a short break away from their ship, when they may not have been ashore for months.