Seafarer welfare a priority across southern WA

Western Australia is leading the way in seafarer welfare through its commitment all-year round to Port Welfare Committees (PWC).

Only 26 per cent of ports across the country have registered Port Welfare Committees through the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), with more than half of those located in WA. 

For Southern Ports, having a Port Welfare Committee in each port is a non-negotiable. It brings together key stakeholders across its ports including Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, port customers, contractors, shipping agents and International Transport Workers Federation.

Southern Ports Chief Executive Officer Keith Wilks said the 17,000+ seafarers who visit its ports, just like any workers, deserved to work in an environment where they feel safe, which is why seafarer welfare is a key focus across WA’s south. 

“Starting my career at sea and having worked in the maritime industry for the past three decades, I fully appreciate the critical role seafarers play in often very difficult conditions,” Mr Wilks said.

“One of the values Southern Ports holds above everything else is that we put people first and our involvement in Port Welfare Committees are a great example of that.” 

“Port Welfare Committees have been established to keep the welfare of seafarers front of mind across our operations and to ensure we provide quality onshore seafarer welfare facilitates and experiences.”

“Seafarers are critical to global trade and if we don’t look after them, we wouldn’t be able to connect our regional industries to global markets.”

“If there is something we can do to make sure seafarers are more comfortable in our ports, or anywhere else, we want to have a serious look at that, and we continue to implement initiatives we’re really proud of to improve seafarer welfare”

“From providing free Wi-Fi and transport options through to helping maintain our local seafarers centres, we know that all these things make a vital difference.”

Bunbury PWC Chair Very Rev. Darryl Cotton who is also the Chair of the Mission to Seafarers Bunbury said since the Committee was established there had been continuing and fruitful conversations about improving the welfare of visiting seafarers to the Port of Bunbury. 

“Because we’re getting representatives who are passionate about seafarer welfare from all the relevant bodies together in the same room, we’ve been able to make great progress and improvements locally,” Very Rev. Cotton said. 

“And because there is a wider network of Australian-wide PWCs we pick up different ideas here and there that we can look to adapt locally. 

“It’s not always about big gestures such as purchasing a crew transport bus, or the provision of Wi-Fi for crew to contact home; its also about providing a safe and comfortable place for seafarers to find respite while on shore leave.”

Southern Ports joins the global maritime industry celebrating the ongoing vital contributions of seafarers on Day of the Seafarer in the lead up to 25 June.

The annual day is a chance to raise awareness of the conditions endured by seafarers who remain the backbone of global trade.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is focused on promoting a culture of respect and zero tolerance for bullying and harassment at sea as a part of its My Harassment-Free Ship campaign this year.

Across Tuesday 24 June and Wednesday 25 June, Southern Ports is inviting all seafarers in port to join its Port Welfare Committee members, port customers and staff in a conversation around the reality of life at sea. 

In partnership with Mission to Seafarers, Southern Ports is also running a volunteer drive to continue vital seafarer services in Esperance during June.

Southern Ports’ overall commitment to supporting seafarers was highly commended at the 2024 DCN Australian Shipping & Maritime Industry Awards. 

Minister for Ports Stephen Dawson said he was proud of WA ports for "leading the way in their commitment to seafarer welfare all-year round".

Read the Minister Dawson's full statement here.