Nearly 700 Christmas hampers are being delivered to merchant navy seafarers calling at southern Western Australian ports, helping bring festive support to crews spending the holiday season away from home.
Southern Ports coordinated the initiative alongside local Mission to Seafarers branches, with additional support from customers and contractors. The effort covers vessels visiting the ports of Albany, Esperance, and Bunbury.
Southern Ports’ Chief Executive Officer said Christmas is traditionally a family occasion, yet many seafarers remain far from their loved ones due to the year-round nature of shipping operations. He noted that global trade does not pause for holidays, which means crews often spend Christmas at sea or in foreign ports.
The hampers aim to remind visiting crews that they are valued members of the local maritime community. The initiative also recognises the role seafarers play in keeping supply chains and economies functioning without interruption.
At Esperance, Southern Ports continued its long-standing coordination of seafarer hampers with backing from several industry partners and the local Mission to Seafarers. Meanwhile, teams and customers in Albany and Bunbury contributed donated treats for hampers organised through Mission to Seafarers volunteers.
Southern Ports reported that more than 17,000 seafarers visited its ports over the past year, supporting the movement of over 30 million tonnes of trade. During that time, additional efforts improved access to transport, internet connectivity, and shore-based respite for visiting crews.
These measures form part of ongoing initiatives to support seafarer welfare while vessels call at southern Western Australian ports.
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Source: The DCN
