Happy returns for visiting seafarers
WHILE many of the crew members who enter the busy Port of Richards Bay are here for the first time, others have been frequent visitors over the years.
Two notable returnees during the last month remember with fondness their visits to the Combined Seafarer Centre.
In 2004, seafarer Zaw Myint dropped in at the centre and he recalls the warm welcome by the staff and what it meant to him after being so far from home for such a long time.
One of the staff members who helped him was supervisor Jessica Naidoo, so it was special for the two to be reunited 19 years later.
For Zaw it was like being back home, while for Jessica it was an honour to meet an old friend.
“It has always been a great experience to work beside people from all over the world, learning new cultures and languages. Knowing that I helped even for a moment brings so much joy to my heart,” she said.
Another seaman glad to be back was Catalino San Pascual Jnr, who visited as an electrician aboard the woodchip carrier MV Chuetsu Spirit in 2011.
This time around, he was a crew member on the bulk carrier MV Cape Jasmine.
He was pleased to recognise the friendly face of centre staff member Estelle Nieuwoudt, who is always happy to assist seafarers.
“Our main vision in this business is to create a safe haven for the seafarers, a home away from home, and they certainly do appreciate our efforts,” said Combined Seafarers Centre manager Mac Thompson.
“Between July and end of October this year, we had 1 881 seafarers visiting our centre. We also transported 1 929 seafarers to and from their vessels, free of charge.
“In addition, we helped 3 313 seafarers with our ‘online order’ system, delivered to them on their respective vessels, because they could not get shore leave or time off to visit town or our centre.”