A WELFARE centre used by seafarers visiting Milford Haven is to close, with the expected loss of eight jobs.

The trustees of the International Seafarers’ Centre, in Robert Street, have taken the difficult decision to close the centre, following a fall in the number of people using it.

A charity jointly managed by the Sailors’ Society, the Apostleship of the Sea and the Mission to Seafarers, it has for many years provided welfare facilities for seafarers visiting the port.

A spokesman for the Sailors’ Society said the trustees were grateful to staff and volunteers “for the many years of service they had given to the centre”.

“Recent years have seen turnaround times rapidly increase, with seafarers often spending only six to 24 hours in port rather than several days,” she said.

“As a result, it was found that an increasing amount of support is being given in Port, with declining numbers of visiting seafarers accessing the centre.”

She said the charities were committed to helping seafarers in the UK and overseas, but it was important that support was focused “where the need is greatest”

“Over the coming months the charities will work with local committee members and partners to identify alternative service provision in the Milford Haven port areas,” she added.

“The Seafarers’ Centre will not close until alternative provision and appropriate facilities have been identified.”

Port chaplain Steve Trayner, who for the last years has used the centre as a base to provide support to seafarers both on and off-ship, said it had been an important local resource.

“If you’re working on a ship with the same people all the time you just want to get away for a bit,” he said.

“It has been somewhere safe they could go to relax and talk to fellow other people.”