January 2024

As we commenced the year 2024, the Mts Centre in Colombo was once again a buzz with activity.

The New Year

The first working day of the year commenced with the observance of traditional cultural practices at the Centre.

Our friends and partners in Mission from the SAGT terminal visited the Centre bringing greetings and best wishes for the year. Traditional food in keeping with the cultural practices was shared with the team at the Centre during the visit.

The Renovation of the Mts Centre and the Family Room

As the usual activities at the Centre began to gather momentum the renovation work of the Centre was completed this month.

This included the family room that was sponsored by our friends at Youngship.

Mts Colombo is delighted to announce the availability of this facility for Seafarers and their families.

The Visit of Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne (Global Head of the Mission) and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence

Work also progressed towards preparing the Centre for the visit of the Global Head of Mission to Seafarers.

Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence visited the Centre on the 12^th of January 2024.

The Princess Royal, Princess Anne opened the Family room during her visit to the Mission to Seafarers Centre in Colombo.

The Regional Head of the Mission to Seafarers for the Middle East and South Asia (MESA) was also present on the occasion.

After visiting the Centre the Global Head of Mission to Seafarers, Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence were received at a reception hosted by the Executive Committee of Mission to Seafarers Colombo where friends and partners of the Mission in Colombo were able to meet and interact with Her Royal Highness and her husband.

Ship Visiting

Ship visiting continues to take place and every effort is made to ensure that every ship visit is a visit with a special purpose and intention. The Mts ship visitor team continues to visit the vessels calling at the Port of Colombo with great enthusiasm and excitement.

Life and the Mts Centre “Home Away from Home”

The newly renovated Mts Centre was happy to welcome to its home away from home to another large number of Seafarers this month. The crew from the following vessels visited the Mts Centre in Colombo in January 2024.

1. ALS Ceres (Singapore – IMO No.9938303)
2. Msc Juanita F (Liberia – IMO No.9235608)
3. Velvet (Marshall Islands – IMO No.9782651)
4. Msc Mara (Liberia – IMO No.9932892)
5. Msc ESL Dar Es Salaam (Liberia – IMO No.9158525)
6. Maersk Candor (United Kingdom – IMO No.9924223)
7. HR Turag (Bangladesh – IMO No.9175779)
8. Densa Seal (Malta – IMO No.9649110)
9. Santa Catarina (Denmark – IMO No.9444730)
10. Msc Vandya (Panama – IMO No.9484462)
11. Msc Elsa 3 (Liberia – IMO No.9123221)
12. Msc Diego (Liberia – IMO No.9202649)
13. Msc Sofia (Liberia – IMO No.9927275)
14. Seaspan Adonis (Hong Kong – IMO No.9468293)
15. Msc Tia II (Liberia – IMO No. 9193680)
16. Quince (Panama – IMO No.9379040)
17. Msc Iilenia (Liberia – IMO No.9962548)
18. San Francisco Bridge (Panama – IMO No.9560364)
19. Msc Audrey (Liberia – IMO No.9540065)
20. Maersk Sarat (Liberia – IMO No.9732591)
21. Msc Spring III (Liberia – IMO No.58864110)
22. APL New York (Singapore – IMO No.9597484)
23. Msc Siya B (Portugal – IMO No.9793947)
24. Msc Hina (Liberia – IMO No.9062984)
25. TC Symphony (Vietnam – IMO No.9318242)
26. Hyundai Singapore (Cyprus – IMO No.9305685)
27. X Press Bardsey (Liberia – IMO No.9477323)
28. Msc Iris (Panama – IMO No.8201624)
29. Ocean Feather (Singapore – IMO No.9596715)
30. Seamax Stafford (Marshall Islands – IMO No.9305491)
31. Msc Genova (Germany – IMO No.9461386)
32. Msc Krystal (Panama – IMO No.9372470)
33. Sattha Bhum (Singapore – IMO No.9240330)
34. Msc Thais (Liberia – IMO No.9957347)
35. Global Ace (Panama – IMO No.9190078)
36. Wide Alpha (Marshall Islands – IMO No.9694529)
37. Kleven (Liberia – IMO No.9085546)
38. PVT Oriana (Vietnam – IMO No.9444168)
39. Maersk Campbell (Liberia – IMO No.9924209)
40. Msc Clorinda (Panama – IMO No.9484429
41. YM Utility (Liberia – IMO No.9337470)

Reaching Out – Humanitarian Assistance and Justice Issues

The Captain and 13 crew members from an oil tanker vessel MT Victoria reached out to the Mts team from their Hotel for urgent assistance.

They were having a dispute with their owners based in Turkey. A quick decision had to be made. Considering that time was essential the Chapin immediately connected with ITF inspector Ranjan Perera, who negotiated a satisfactory settlement for the crew.

6 months’ wages that were outstanding were transferred within 30 minutes together with 10 days’ wages for January 2024 as well. The content and satisfied crew travelled to their airport soon after they received their dues.

Mts Colombo has also been in touch with a Sri Lankan Seafarer who was on board a vessel in anchorage at the Port of Chittagong. He is keen and anxious to sign off as he appears to be having a family back at home that requires his presence.

The crew from the Tug vessel Michi that is at the Dry Dock in Colombo reached out to the Port Chaplain seeking a solution to their non-payment of wages for between 5 – 6 months. After due consideration, the matter was raised with the ITF inspector in Colombo who is now pursuing the matter with the relevant authorities.

The statistics of January 2024

The statistics for the month continue to amaze us besides providing us with some specific details about  Ship visiting, Seafarers dropping visiting the Centre and the Mts Free transport shuttle helping the Seafarers with their transport to the Centre and back to the vessel. Most of the crew from the above-mentioned list of vessels have also visited the Centre more than once for the month.

The details of ship visits for January 2024 are given below.

Ship visits 168

Seafarers at the Centre 302

Pick up and Drop off 294

Justice Issue 12

Humanitarian Assistance 00