C4.4.b. What is the obligation on a port State regarding shore-based welfare services?

Under Regulation 4.4, countries must ensure that shore-based welfare facilities, where they exist on their territory, are easily accessible to all seafarers, irrespective of nationality, race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion or social origin and irrespective of the flag State of the ship on which they are employed or engaged or work. They must also promote the development of welfare facilities in appropriate ports of their country and determine, after consultation with the shipowners’ and seafarers’ organizations concerned, which ports are to be regarded as appropriate. They must encourage the establishment of welfare boards to regularly review welfare facilities and services to ensure that they are appropriate in the light of changes in the needs of seafarers resulting from technical, operational and other developments in the shipping industry.

Access to shore-based welfare facilities