Freshly published research into the welfare outcomes of vulnerable, international seafarers visiting Australian ports has reinforced the importance of reliable, accessible internet access and shore leave, with connectivity identified as the highest priority service for seafarers.
The 2025 Seafarer Port Welfare Survey, commissioned by the Australian Seafarers’ Welfare Council and conducted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, received 436 responses from seafarers working across a diverse range of vessels, ports and nationalities.
The survey found that internet and Wi-Fi were the highest priority welfare service, receiving the largest number of first-choice rankings. Shore leave was also highly valued, while safe access to shore and timely medical care were identified as important to seafarer wellbeing.
The findings also highlighted a significant gap between the availability of welfare services and seafarers’ ability to access them.
Short port stays, fast cargo operations, inspections, onboard duties and limited transport options mean many seafarers have little or no realistic opportunity to leave their vessel, even where excellent welfare services are available ashore.
Tas Bull Seafarers Foundation Managing Director Robert Coombs said the findings confirmed what welfare organisations see every day in Australian ports.
“Seafarers can spend weeks at sea, separated from their families and communities, and then arrive in port for only a matter of hours. For many, the ability to connect with family is one of the most important things they can do while they are here.
“When shore leave isn’t possible, a free, fast and reliable internet connection can be the difference between feeling completely isolated and being able to speak to your partner, see your children, manage your affairs and maintain those important connections with home.”
The survey also identified transport between ships and shore as a key enabler of welfare access, with seafarers calling for more flexible options to allow them to access shore-based services.
Mr Coombs said Australia has a strong network of seafarer welfare organisations, but access remains the critical issue.
“Australia has some outstanding organisations providing practical support to seafarers, including Stella Maris, Hunterlink and the Mission to Seafarers. But many welfare services can’t help someone who can’t get ashore, and a service that depends on an internet connection is of limited use if that connection isn’t available.
“That is why connectivity needs to be treated as a basic welfare service for seafarers, not a luxury.”
For more than seven years the Tas Bull Seafarers Foundation has addressed this need through Seafarer Connect, a national project providing free Wi-Fi access to international seafarers visiting Australian ports.
Seafarer Connect has been progressively deploying free Wi-Fi machines at ports around Australia, including Port Botany, Port Kembla, Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, Geraldton and Kwinana, with further deployments planned across Western Australia and Queensland.
The project has been supported by governments, port authorities and international seafarer welfare partners like the ITF Seafarers Trust, recognising the fundamental role connectivity plays in supporting the wellbeing of people who work at sea.
“Seafarer Connect is a practical response to a very simple need,” Mr Coombs said.
“Every seafarer should have the opportunity to contact their family and loved ones without having to worry about the cost or whether the ship’s connection will work.
“The survey provides further evidence that connectivity is central to seafarer welfare. Our goal is to make sure that wherever a seafarer arrives in an Australian port, free and reliable Wi-Fi is available to them.”