Two organisations with seafarers at heart will be working hard throughout this summer’s The Tall Ships Races Hartlepool 2023 to ensure the welfare of hundreds of crew members.
Stella Maris and The Mission to Seafarers have agreed to become Maritime Charity Partners during what will be one of the UK’s biggest free events of the year.
More than 35 tall ships from around the world will visit Hartlepool from July 6-9 when those who work on the ships will hope for an enjoyable stay.
Stella Maris and The Mission to Seafarers will manage the crew centre at Irvine’s Quay, supporting crew members with any presenting welfare needs.
There will also be a shared stall in the community zone where the charities will be looking to recruit new volunteers to assist them in their on-going support of seafarers.
Stella Maris and The Mission to Seafarers have developed comprehensive ship visiting networks throughout the world. Crew welfare staff operating during The Tall Ships event will include Port chaplain Peter Barrigan, Port Welfare Officer Allison Liddle and volunteer ship visitor Brenda Bland.
Peter, the Regional Port Chaplain for Stella Maris said: “We look after crew welfare already with the cargo side of things in the Tees and Hartlepool areas, so it will be an extension of that to help those on the tall ships.
“In the Tees region, Stella Maris’ team of ship visiting volunteers have been welcoming seafarers for many years, ensuring that their practical, welfare, and pastoral needs are supported.
“It is so exciting to be part of such a huge event. I like football and I see this as the World Cup of the yachting world – it is great that the World Cup is coming to Hartlepool. We will be there to help.”
The Tall Ships Races will see a mix of Class A, B, C and D vessels arrive in Hartlepool when crew members will visit the crew centre and have access to the public site to mix with locals.
A crew parade is planned for Friday, July 7 and there will be a prize giving and party for crew before the ships depart for Norway on the Sunday morning.
The Mission to Seafarers has served the needs of Seafarers in Hartlepool since 1861 when its first centre was established on the HMS Trincomalee, now docked in the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool. At present, it has two seafarers’ Centres on both sides of the Tees with its own ship visiting team.
Allison Liddle, the local welfare officer and ship visitor for The Mission to Seafarers said: “There is quite rightly a lot of concentration on the sail trainees during The Tall Ships Races, but we’ll be focused on the needs of regular crew.
“We will look after them, make sure we are there and available. We also want to make the public aware of what we do. We will be actively trying to source volunteers; we work in 50 countries in over 200 ports and we are looking for volunteers across the UK to help us get back to normal after the Covid period.
“We’d love to hear from people who could help with assisting seafarers who visit our Centres and driving them to and from their ships. There is also the Merchant Navy Welfare Board course available for anyone who would like to become a ship welfare visitor.”
Both The Mission to Seafarers and Stella Maris provide vital support to seafarers who are responsible for the delivery of 95 per cent of world trade.
Brenda Bland, a Stella Maris volunteer welfare ship visitor, who is well known for helping people across Hartlepool through charity work, said: “We deal with the spiritual side of life, providing practical and emotional support to the men and women while they are away from home. We are there to help them.
“The Tall Ships Races is an iconic event. The ships immediately catch your attention, they are a magnificent sight and from around the world – meaning the crews are from all over the world too. It’s a fantastic prospect to think so many will be heading to Hartlepool.”