The month of July has indeed been a busy time for the Mts team in Colombo. Besides engaging in Ship Visits and offering hospitality at the Mts Centre in Colombo, July has also seen the Annual National Sea Sunday Service and the Mts Middle East and South Asia (MESA) regional conference take place between the 20th and 24th July 2026 in Colombo.<\/p>\n
Ship Visting<\/strong><\/p>\n The Mts Ship Welfare Visitor team continued to engage in their primary task, with 136 Ship visits completed in the month. This point of contact serves as the bridge for the birth of friendships, visits to the Mts Centre and opportunities to share and listen. Therefore, much effort is taken to reassure Seafarers of our presence and availability for them whenever they call over at the Port of Colombo.<\/p>\n Ship Visits are often done while Seafarers are engaged in their work. As a team, we need to skillfully manage the time taken in those meetings so our visit doesn\u2019t pose a challenge to Seafarers or their on-board duties. The Ship Welfare visitor team is required to observe as well as engage. As loneliness, fear, anxiety and uncertainty are the changes that most Seafarers grapple with, we share details of the facilities available to them at the Mts Centre and encourage them to make time for themselves and visit the Mts Centre for a change in setting.<\/p>\n These moments of interaction also create lasting friendships that often will mean that Seafarers make contact with the Mts ship visitor team in advance of return visits and reach out for assistance they would like to receive.<\/p>\n\n\t\t