Seafarers’ WiFi System Installed at Ipswich: David Thurston

May 14th, 2015 by JCB
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L-R: Captain Jerry Coleman ( Ipswich HM). Andrew Harston (ABP director, Short Sea Ports) Rose George, James Cooper (CEO, ABP) David Thurston (Chairman FHPSS)

 

On Thursday 30^th October 2014, Felixstowe & Haven Ports Seafarers’ Service  (FHPSS) held a ceremony on board the Thames sailing barge Victor at Ipswich Docks, to celebrate the inauguration of the Seafarers Wi –Fi network at the Port of Ipswich. Members of the Haven Ports welfare committee, representatives from shipping agencies, port users, senior management of ABP, including James Cooper, CEO and executive director of ABP, and members of Felixstowe & Haven Ports Seafarers Service attended the ceremony.

 

The Wi-Fi network is unique in the United Kingdom, being the first system set up for the provision of seafarers’ welfare. It was officially declared open by Rose George, author of the acclaimed book Deep Sea and Foreign Going, which won the Mountbatten Maritime Award in 2013 and was written after a five-week voyage from Felixstowe to Singapore Rose made in 2010 on the large container ship Maersk Kendal. In her book she addresses the concept of sea blindness, a condition in which many of us shop and fly over the sea but rarely think of the sea’s significance in terms of how 90% of everything in our stores arrives by sea. Particularly we do not think of the lives of those who work on the ships that bring them. She addresses the perils faced by a ship’s crew, both external – storms, piracy, un-seaworthy ships – and internal – loneliness and boredom.

 

So why was the Wi-Fi network installed? Traditionally, seafarers
have visited seafarers centres to make landline phone calls to their families around the world. However, as technology progressed, they started using mobile phones, and now they use the internet provided at all of the charity’s centres to communicate with family and friends and to access to social media. However,
just over three
years ago, the chaplains who visit the ships said that because of the geography of the Port of Ipswich and the quick turnarounds many seafarers found it difficult or even impossible to reach the centre at Ipswich to use the Internet. This made some seafarers feel very isolated, and it soon became apparent that they would benefit from having access to the Internet without having to leave
their vessel.

 

The idea was explored and after receiving several quotes it was clear that the only way the project was going to happen was to seek funding

from maritime charities. So enquiries were made and application forms submitted. Happily the idea was received well and donations came in from major charitable organisations.

 

The main contributor has been the charity Seafarers UK. Their Felixstowe branch was left a large legacy by Beryl Threadkell to fund maritime projects in the Suffolk area. The project matched perfectly the legacy’s requirements, so Seafarers UK were delighted to make a substantial contribution. The Merchant Navy Welfare Board also made a large donation, the Felixstowe & Haven Ports Seafarers’ Service making up the shortfall. However, to meet future operating costs ABP and port users are discussing how to generate funds
for this purpose.

 

The Ipswich Harbour master Capt Jerry Coleman, chairman of the Haven Ports Welfare committee,

first presented the idea to the management of ABP Ipswich. ABP fully embraced and supported the project, recognizing the benefits
of being associated with this pioneering installation.

 

Now that the system is operational at all commercial berths in Ipswich the feedback from the visiting seafarers is most encouraging.
It is understood that the MNWB
are showing an interest and
may encourage other ports to
follow Ipswich’s example and
install a network to support
seafarers’ welfare.

 

Felixstowe & Haven Ports Seafarers’ Service is a standalone charity registered in 1976 to provide rest, recreation, entertainment and spiritual guidance in a safe environment, without restriction of nationality, race or creed for all seafarers, the majority of whom spend many months thousands of

miles from their homes and families.

The Charity is managed at the Felixstowe Centre and operates two small satellites, one at Harwich International Port and the other at the Port of Ipswich, where seafarers can relax, socialise and seek assistance in spiritual and temporal matters.

The Felixstowe Centre also serves
as a base for the chaplains
appointed and remunerated by their participating societies, from which they perform their ministry in all Haven Ports. In the course of a year the crews of some 5,500 ships that visit the Haven avail themselves of
its services.

 

Funding for the Felixstowe Centre is generated from different sources. An astonishing 80% comes from sales to the seafarers themselves. Of the rest 13% comes from donations, the shipping companies providing only
7% of the income. In terms of paid staff there is a skeleton crew, who staff the shop and bar and drive at evenings and weekends. They are all part-time, except for the centre’s manager. The Felixstowe Centre’s financial viability is highly dependent on volunteers, who include first and foremost the honorary treasurer and a team of highly dependable weekday minibus drivers, and also a married couple doing the gardening and some building maintenance, a new librarian and others who assist the two chaplains. Several dedicated groups of ladies knit woolly hats and scarves as gifts to the seafarers. Volunteers are often recruited and introduced to the Centre by volunteers. All these volunteers make a difference to the Centre’s effectiveness, but more volunteers, even if they can give only one or two hours a week, are always welcome.

The more available, the greater the outreach into the wider community.

 

It is interesting to note that the provision of welfare for seafarers at Ipswich goes way back to November 1868 when the 549 tons 16 gun brig-sloop Helena was gifted by the Admiralty for a floating chapel for seamen and moored in the dock near Eagle Wharf. She remained in use until June 1880, when the Navy transferred her to other duties. She gave her name to Helena Road that now runs along the east side of the dock next to the wharf. It is thought to have been one of the earliest establishments used for the provision of welfare to seafarers.

 

David Thurston is a senior pilot at Harwich Haven Authority and was appointed as honorary chairman at Felixstowe & Haven Ports Seafarers’ Service in January 2012.