Seafarer welfare in South Africa
Centres, helplines, and rights routes for crew calling at ports in South Africa. Welfare centres provide free transport, Wi-Fi, religious services, chaplaincy, and counselling. Helplines below are free and confidential.
In-country helplines
- Africa · Office hours, 24/7 emergencies
- Global · 24/7💬 WhatsApp +44 7909 470732
- Global · 24/7 for emergencies
- Global · Online
- Global · Online
- Global · Varies by port
Global helplines (24/7)
Full directory at /help/helplines (123+ organisations).
Welfare centres (9)
- Mission to Seafarers DurbanThe Mission to SeafarersFlying Angel Centre, Durban Harbourwifitransportshopchapel
- Mission to Seafarers Cape TownThe Mission to SeafarersDuncan Road, Table Bay Harbour, Cape Townwifitransportshopchapel
- Mission to Seafarers GqeberhaThe Mission to SeafarersPort of Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)wifitransportchapel
- Mission to Seafarers East LondonThe Mission to Seafarerswifitransportchapelcounselling
- Mission to Seafarers Saldanha BayThe Mission to Seafarerswifitransportchapelcounselling
- Mission to Seafarers Richards BayThe Mission to Seafarerswifitransportchapelcounselling
- Sailors' Society Cape TownSailors' Societywifitransportchapelcounselling
- Sailors' Society DurbanSailors' Societywifitransportchapelcounselling
- Sailors' Society Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)Sailors' Societywifitransportchapelcounselling
Top ports in South Africa
- Algoa Bay (ZAAOB)
- Arcadia (ZATHR)
- Botswana (ZABWA)
- Bottelary (ZA8GT)
- Cape Town (ZACPT)
- Coega (ZAZBA)
- De Rust (ZADRU)
- De Waterkant (ZADWK)
- Durban (ZADUR)
- East London (ZAELS)
- Eastern Cape (ZACTP)
- Elands Bay (ZAEBY)
And 48 more — see all South Africa ports.
Your rights in port
- Shore leave — FAL Convention Std 3.44 + ILO C185.
- Medical care — TMAS, P&I cover, MLC Reg 4.1.
- Abandonment — MLC A2.5.2 financial security.
- Unpaid wages — evidence + ITF inspector + Notice of Intent to Arrest.
- PSC complaint — route via the local administration.
Welfare data is community-contributed and may be out of date. Tell us if a centre has closed, moved, or changed services.