Happy at Sea app empowers seafarers to take control of their port welfare needs
By Verity Relph
Free of charge and packed with features, the Mission to Seafarers’ Happy at Sea app is a must have for seafarers. It gives centralised access to all The Mission to Seafarers’ (MtS) services around the world.
Using the app, seafarers can find and check into a seafarers’ centre, request a ship visit, pre-order shopping, book transport, take part in the global happiness survey, access mental health and wellbeing resources, and read The Sea.
It is the first app completely dedicated to helping seafarers access port welfare services. It puts seafarers in charge of their own needs, providing a single space where they can find information about facilities available in port, put in requests for help, and access resources to support their wellbeing.
Spanning 200 ports across 50 countries, MtS is the leading charitable provider of port-based welfare facilities. The idea for the app emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic, when MtS relied on technology to reach and connect with seafarers. Thanks to funding from DNV, Cargill, and The Seafarers’ Charity, MtS was able to develop an app which provides crews with easier access to its welfare services.
Launched in June 2023, the Happy at Sea app allows seafarers to quickly find information about what services are available in a port and pre-book the help that they need.
A key feature of the app is that seafarers can put in requests ahead of their arrival in port. Requests can be made for shopping, transport to the local town or shopping mall, and SIM cards to make contact with loved ones.
Central to MtS’ work is its global network of chaplains, who are there to talk through problems and provide practical support where it is needed, day and night, 365 days a year. If a crew member would like to speak to a chaplain, they can use the app to request a chaplain to come onboard their vessel while in port.
With 121 Flying Angel Centres, The Mission to Seafarers is also the world’s largest provider of seafarers’ centres worldwide. These centres offer a safe space to relax between voyages, purchase supplies, connect to Wi-Fi and seek support.
The app enables seafarers to find contact details and check in to their local Flying Angel seafarers’ centre. They can also save a port as a favourite, making for easier check-in and contact next time they are there.
As well as in-port services, seafarers can also take part in the Seafarers Happiness Index survey. With just a few taps, they can answer questions and give feedback on their recent experiences at sea, helping to bring about positive changes within the industry.
The app is also where seafarers can access The Sea magazine, keep up-to-date with news, and access MtS’s extensive range of mental health and wellbeing resources.
The app empowers seafarers to take control of their port welfare needs and ensures they can access help when they need it most.
The charity is already thinking about how the technology could be developed further, for instance how it could give seafarers access to information about other maritime welfare organisations around the world.
Happy@Sea can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store for Android.
For further information, visit: app.missiontoseafarers.org.
