Mary-Therese, Assistant Chaplain and Ship Visitor
for the Port of Wellington
Mary-Therese started working for The Mission to Seafarers Wellington in 2023. She has a Diploma in Chaplaincy.
She enjoys visiting ships and providing pastoral support to the crew members onboard, as well as meeting their practical needs, like sim cards and information about Wellington. She also enjoys taking them on sightseeing trips.
Mary-Therese ensures that crew members know key destinations in Wellington City – not tourist attractions, but rather those that are needed and necessary such as currency exchanges, grocery stores, pharmacies, footlockers, and, of course, an affordable bar.
Mary-Therese’s provides map so that their brief time on land is not wasted trying to find their way around. Shore leave — the time when seafarers are freely permitted to leave their ships — has become increasingly scarce across the maritime industry. Therefor crews on board cargo vessels have limited opportunities to refuel, rest, and recreation during their short time off duty. Mary-Therese has seen ships with a six-hour turnaround time.
Video
We have a video of May-Therese explaining her work with seafarers:
The Wellington Seafarers Welfare Centre:
This modern fit-for-purpose Seafarers Centre is located at Portacom P11 in the Pipitea Village, right next to Shed 39 at CentrePort, Wellington.
Our Seafarers Centre has keypad access so seafarers can gain access to the Centre 24/7/365.
Crew members are invited to come to the Seafarers Centre to relax and unwind, use the free WIFI, enjoy a cuppa tea and a biscuit, and help themselves to free magazines, books, SIM cards and other resources that we have available, free of charge.
About The Mission to Seafarers Wellington
- A non-profit organisation based at CentrePort, Wellington, New Zealand’s Capital City.
- Their work is to support seafarers – the hard-working men and women that live and work at sea, who bring 97% of our imports and exports to & from New Zealand.
- They are an active ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Wellington, and the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul. They are grateful for the support by amazing people from all around the Wellington Diocese, and further afield.
Globally
The Mission to Seafarers provides welfare and advocacy and a friendly welcome to crews in 200 ports in 50 countries around the world
Website: Visit The Mission to Seafarers Global Website
Text taken from The Missions to Seafarers website : Visit The Mission to Seafarers Wellington
…and from Oceanographic Magazine website: Visit Oceanographic