01.06.2016
New Centre in Dublin Port Offers Seafarers a Home Away From Home
Dublin Port’s new Seafarers’ Centre was officially opened on Monday morning (May 30). The beautiful new centre is on the site of the old Odlum’s mill at the port and from it the Mission to Seafarers and Stella Maris offer an invaluable ministry to seafarers from all over the world.
The €500,000 state–of–the–art centre will cater for the 7,500 seafarers and sailors that arrive into the Port every year. Facilities include free Wi–Fi access for sailors to contact family and loved ones while ashore, cooking and dining facilities and a relaxation and recreation space including a pool table, library and TV den with beanbags. There is also a chaplain available on request, they give out free Bibles and woolly hats are given out in winter.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaig, who is also Honorary Admiral of Dublin Port, officially opened the new centre. “I commend Dublin Port for creating such a welcoming facility for the thousands of seafarers who visit our shores and make a valuable contribution to our city and society,” she stated. “It’s wonderful to see the Catholic Apostleship of the Sea and the Anglican Mission to Seafarers working in tandem to continue their respective traditions of caring for seafarers.”
Chief Executive of Dublin Port Company Eamonn O’Reilly paid tribute to the teams of volunteers who work quietly for the Stella Maris and the Mission to Seafarers to welcome the hidden workforce who come from overseas. “We are delighted to open Dublin Port’s new purpose–built Seafarers’ Centre. It means that Dublin Port can provide sailors working thousands of miles from home with a space to rest, socialise and connect with family and friends under the care of Stella Maris and the Flying Angel. The centre is a fine example of sustainable development in practice at Dublin Port.”
Speaking on behalf of the committee of the Mission to Seafarers, Ed Taylor, thanked everyone who had worked to transform the building which had been the canteen for workers at Odlums. He thanked Dublin Port Company for providing the space and the International Transport Workers’ Federation for funding the fitting out of the centre. The Seafarers’ centre had operated from a portacabin on Branch Road 3 for over 20 years and Mr Taylor concluded: “From a Mission to Seafarers point of view this centre has achieved more than our wildest dreams could have hoped for.”
Rose Kearney of Stella Maris acknowledged the immense work carried out by the invisible workforce of people who transit the world bringing us goods by sea. But she said they had a harsh life. “Despite the tremendous value of modern technology which has enhanced communications, life at sea is lonely. They miss out all the normal things of family life, their space is confined and their diet and sleep are often disrupted. We are privileged to work with the seafarers and we congratulate Dublin Port that they entrust this work to the Mission to Seafarers and ourselves,” she commented.
The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Diarmuid Martin observed that the Christian Church was founded on seafarers. He said that a port is a place where you can get all the knowledge and wisdom from a technological point of view but you could miss the people who you see and don’t see. He added that seafarers needed a high level of protection and that the Seafarers’ Centre had people who were experts at finding out the hearts of people. “Life at sea has become more lonely. There are less people on ships and seafarers have less contact with people. This centre is an example of quality which will encourage every aspect of the port to strive for similar quality. I encourage everyone to remember those who work at sea,” he said.
Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, spoke of how much we depend on seafarers for the things we take for granted. He suggested that the new Seafarers’ Centre offered respite from the dangers and anxieties experienced at sea. “The facilities of humanity and companionship offered through this new Seafarers’ Centre, where human trust and friendship combines with the seasoned experience of both The Mission to Seafarers and Stella Maris, will quickly become known and appreciated by seafarers and their families right around the world. It is a great delight to both Archbishop Martin and me to be able to share with you in a work and a ministry of friendship and companionship that knows no human boundaries and where communication lies at the heart of all that happens and security lies at the heart of hospitality and friendship,” he said.
Ken Flemming of the International Transport Workers’ Federation said that every day 205,000 people were going to work at sea and a further 205,000 were going home. Each year 1,500 seafarers go missing and there are 900 suicides. Some of them are on their vessels for over a year. He said that most people were blind to these seafarers. “That Dublin Port has opened a facility like this is evidence that you are thinking of the seafarers,” he commented.
You can find out more about what goes on at the Seafarers’ Centre at
www.missiontoseafarersireland.ie or on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/Mission–to–Seafarers–Dublin–256712591045800/
Photo captions:
Top – The Revd Willie Black, Chaplain with Mission to Seafarers; Archbishop Michael Jackson; Rose Kearney of Stella Maris; Lord Mayor of Dublin Críona Ní Dhálaig; and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin at the new Seafarers’ Centre in Dublin Port.
Bottom – Three seafarers were among the first visitors to the new Seafarers’ Centre in Dublin Port.