{"id":13653,"date":"2026-02-28T21:43:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T16:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missiontoseafarers.org\/colombo\/?post_type=news&p=13653"},"modified":"2026-03-01T05:52:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T00:22:03","slug":"february-2026","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.missiontoseafarers.org\/colombo\/news\/february-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"February 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

As we close out the shortest month of the year, we observe a rather different and unfamiliar situation emerge. Ship visits have been brisk and regular during the days the Mts Centre in Colombo was operational. A few public holidays, the Mts free transport requiring some technical attention, and a reduction in Seafarers visiting were observed during the month.<\/p>\n

The Mts ship welfare visitor team has remained committed to their primary function without letting these external factors negatively impact the work that takes place at the Centre.<\/p>\n

Ship Visiting<\/strong><\/p>\n

A careful comparison of data from the months of January and February shows that ship visiting has remained unchanged or marginally higher than in January 2026.<\/p>\n

We observed a slight decline in the number of vessels that called at the Port of Colombo in January 2026 (Daily Mirror on 26\/02\/2026).<\/p>\n

Ship visiting is the initial and extremely vital point of contact, as it provides the Mts ship welfare visitor team with the opportunity and space to make Seafarers on board aware of the services and facilities offered to them at the Centre. This also becomes the point at which the Mts ship welfare visitor team encourages engagement with Seafarers and extends vital pastoral care and support through meaningful interactions.<\/p>\n

We are aware that Seafarers may be sceptical that we offer essential services critical to their mental wellbeing at the Mts Centre free of charge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t