New Gibraltar Seafarers Welfare Board

At a reception in the Convent on Saturday 8 of this month, the Minister for the Port Paul Balban,
announced the inauguration of the Gibraltar Seafarers Welfare Board.

On the previous day on the 10th anniversary, the Gibraltar Port Welfare Committee had been formally disbanded in favour of the change. Chairman of the new Board, welcomed the development adding "the title properly recognised Gibraltar's role as global maritime state".  the new board will be supported and administered, as previously by the UK's Merchant Navy Welfare Board.

The Chief Executive CapTAIN David Parsons said that "this recognised the warm welcome and welfare support given to seafarers of all nationalities visiting the port over many years.  This was a result of the long and close collaboration between the voluntary societies, churches, Gibraltar Maritime Administration, Port Authority, Gibdock, Siopping Agents and MOD Navy. The support to seafarers and the new title is in line with the recommendations set down in the ILO's Maritime Labour Conventions 2006.”