The UK ministry Mission to Seafarers has taken part in the opening ceremony for a new ecumenical centre for seafarers in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Seafaring is one of the most dangerous occupations and loneliness is common among seafarers.

Now seafarers passing through Port Elizabeth will be able to make the short walk from the quayside to the centre which aims to provide them with a place to relax in and call their own. They can also make use of internet, telephones, a games room, a lounge to relax in, read or watch DSTV, or enjoy a bite to eat in the small canteen.

The new centre is the fruit of two years of joint planning between a number of Christian organisations, including the Anglican Mission to Seafarers, the Dutch Reformed Church's Biblia ministry, the Methodist International Sailors' Society, and the Roman Catholic Apostleship of the Sea.

The ribbon was cut by the port manager, Esther Goosen, while the doors to the new centre were officially opened by Martin Britz, a chaplain with Biblia.

During the opening ceremony, Mission to Seafarers' chairman Rev Ruthell Johnson paid tribute to Biblia for making the facilities open to all the Christian organisations that will be sharing the centre as their point of outreach to seafarers.

Prof Fanie Snyman, co-ordinator for Biblia, Rev Boet van Schalkwyk, principal chaplain of ISS, Terry Whitfield, national co-ordinator of AoS and the Rev Des Vaubell, the principal chaplain for Mission to Seafarers and the executive secretary of Mission to Seafarers in South Africa all attended the opening ceremony.