• The aim of this initiative is to create an organisation to guarantee and promote welfare facilities and services in the Port of Valencia that can be used by the personnel working on board the ships and boats that dock there

• The Committee was formed with the presence of: Joan Calabuig, President of the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV); Néstor Martínez, Deputy Director of Valenciaport; Paula Casalls, Director of the Asociación Naviera Valenciana; Elena Delgado, Maritime Captain of València; Juan García, ITF delegate in València; José Martorell, representative of Stella Maris in Valencia; and Ignacio Valls, Provincial Director of the Instituto Social de la Marina

Valenciaport looks after the welfare of the people who work on board the ships and vessels that dock at the Port of Valencia. For this reason, the Port Authority of València (PAV) has joined the initiative of the International Labour Organisation to promote the creation of a Welfare Committee to guarantee access to appropriate facilities and services for the entire maritime community.

The signing of the constitution of the Welfare Committee for Seafarers of the Port of Valencia has been attended by: Joan Calabuig, president of the Port Authority of València (APV); Néstor Martínez, deputy director of Valenciaport; Paula Casalls, director of the Asociación Naviera Valenciana; Elena Delgado, Maritime Captain of València; Juan García, delegate of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) in València; José Martorell, representative of Stella Maris in València; and Ignacio Valls, Provincial Director of the Instituto Social de la Marina.

This forum is made up of representatives of the maritime administration, private port companies or associations, as well as seafarers themselves and voluntary organisations. In this meeting place, all those involved in seafarers’ welfare can meet regularly, share information, provide mutual support and, in general, establish contacts with the aim of achieving the following goals:

• To promote local concern for seafarers’ welfare.
• To encourage collaboration at local level between the different entities and bodies, both public and private, to raise awareness of the need to look after the welfare of this community.
• To promote the provision of welfare services in the Port of València for seafarers who call at the port and, consequently, to provide the necessary facilities.
• To ensure that these welfare services are adequate and that they are updated.
• Ensure that welfare facilities in port are adequate.
• Strive to find ways to ensure that welfare needs are met through effective deployment of resources.
• Facilitate the establishment of benevolent organizations working for the welfare of seafarers in ports.
• Maintain contact with the national committee and integrate into any international platforms or groupings that may exist.