Seaman's mission in Wilhelmshaven: 490 ships and 6,000 sailors looked after!

Seaman's mission in Wilhelmshaven: 490 ships and 6,000 sailors looked after!

In the first half of 2025, the German Seamen's Mission in Wilhelmshaven drew an impressive balance. In total, the volunteer ship visitors, including four women, pay comprehensive visits to 490 ships. This brought contact with around 6,000 seafarers of various nationalities. These dedicated helpers not only offer practical support, but also places of refuge for the seafarers, who often live and work on board for months at a time. How NWZ Online reported that 429 sailors visited the Seaman's Mission house on Hegelstrasse and were able to benefit from the numerous leisure activities.

What makes the seaman's mission so special? In addition to a cozy living room and a sailor's bar, it also offers a table football room and a "quiet corner" where sailors can relax. The clothing shop, which is available to sailors free of charge, is particularly practical. The visits are often organized in such a way that the sailors have time for shopping in Wilhelmshaven or sightseeing around the city. For first-time visitors there is also a “Wilhelmshaven folder” with harbor and tourist information as well as a warm welcome letter.

Volunteering

The voluntary commitment of the Seemannsmission should not be underestimated. In the first half of the year, 76 seafarers received personal support and a warm welcome in the house. On special occasions, such as Sailors' Day, small gifts were distributed to the arriving sailors. The Seaman's Mission is also active in the spirit of exchange and networking: the annual general meeting recently took place in the “Treff auf Siebethsburg”, where long-standing members such as Eberhard Quast were said farewell.

Not to be forgotten are the Seamen's Mission's impressive 65 years of voluntary work in the port. The Christmas campaign “Christmas packages for sailors”, which distributed over 700 Christmas bags, shows the passion that goes into this organization. Events such as the charity concert by the “coro piccolo” choir in St. Martin Church strengthen the sense of community and provide a platform for further support.

On the way to new shores

Wilhelmshaven's range of services for seafarers extends beyond the city's borders. The seafarers' mission visited Rostock to exchange information and took part in a seafarers' service in Leerhafe to introduce themselves. There was also a recent visit by the head of the Bremen Seamen's Mission to Wilhelmshaven, which promotes the exchange of experiences. Such visits are important because around 1.8 million seafarers travel on around 74,000 merchant ships worldwide. This shows how fundamental the role of the seafarers' mission is in supporting this often disadvantaged professional group.

Particularly noteworthy is the Seafarers' Service on Sunday, August 17th at 10 a.m. This is musically accompanied by the jazz band “Seaside Swinging-Combo” and by sailor pastor Dr. Klaus Lemke-Paetznick designed. A highlight that will bring joy not only to the sailors but also to the entire community.

The Seaman's Mission remains an important anchor in Wilhelmshaven and makes a significant contribution to ensuring that seafarers feel supported and welcome despite the often strict living conditions that seafaring entails. In a profession considered one of the most dangerous in the world, the Seafarers' Mission performs vital work to protect the needs and rights of seafarers. Therefore, the support and commitment to this organization is not only commendable but also urgently needed. Those interested can find further information on the official website Seaman's Mission Wilhelmshaven as well as on the platform International Seamen's Mission.