Welcoming place

“The provision of seafarer’s welfare support has a history stretching back to at least the early 1800s,” emails Montrose Port Honorary Archivist John Aitken. “The illustration in Craigie last week brought to mind the back-up provided in many ports around the world,” he tells me.

“Despite all the facilities on board the giant container ships, massive tankers and bulk carriers plus cruise liners of gigantic dimensions, the crews of such vessels are under a range of pressures often quite different from those of merchant seafarers of the past.

“At the other end of the scale, small merchantmen have their own problems to deal with – shorter times in port, berths far removed from towns and cities, often undisclosed owners/ managers far away from sea routes, vessels run on a financial shoestring are some of the problems currently met at sea.

“To be away from home and family for months on end may suit some but most find it comforting to visit the welcoming facility of a Seafarers Centre in a foreign port. With the rise of flag of convenience fleets around the globe, standards are variable and often such ships are detained by the authorities until the detected deficiencies are rectified. Long periods of unpaid wages are another difficulty faced by seafarers.

“For example, since the Montrose Seafarer’s centre opened, personnel of almost 100 nationalities have crossed its doorstep with the Port Chaplain, Peter Donald having made over 6,000 visits to vessels in the ports of Montrose, Dundee and Perth. Now on its second property a modern facility, the first being the former harbour office in Meridian Street, the Montrose Centre is located within the port estate, thus allowing easier access for maritime visitors.

“Initially set up by Montrose Churches Together with the support of Montrose port Authority and port-related companies and organisations the centre provides a wide range of facilities and welfare services of use to visiting seafarers.”

“Following recent items about the SS Perth,” says a reader, “I thought you might be interested to see her in her civilian livery.” “Clearing out my late aunt’s house in Arbroath,” says Ewen Mackay, “I came across photographs of various cricket teams at...