Odessa, 19 AUGUST 2016, CONTEXT-Prichernomorie -- Club for sailors «Seamen's club» of the port of Odessa is preparing a campaign to promote the image of Ukraine among foreign sailors, the correspondent of IA «Context-Prichernomorie» reports.

As stated in the press service, the Club for sailors «Seamen's club» of Odessa port is preparing a campaign to promote among foreign sailors Ukraine's image as a peaceful and hospitable country. The event will take place on the International Maritime Day, 29 September, which this year is held under the slogan «Shipping. The world is unthinkable without it». The proposed action (production and distribution of printed materials, holding of sports competitions with the participation of seafarers and so on) was discussed at the meeting of the Port Committee (PC) of the port of Odessa on 18 August.

The meeting was attended by Director of projects of the International organization of the Marine society (Sailors' Society) Sandra Welch (United Kingdom), Deputy Chairman of the Trade Union of the port of Odessa Nikolay Nikolaev, representatives of the State Border Service, departments and services of the Port Authority and the State Enterprise «OCSP» and others.

As the executive secretary of the Port Commitee told, Director of the Seamen's club Tatiana Tarasik, agenda of the meeting also included a question about filing the applications by the Port of Odessa Committee to participate in the international program of cooperation of port peace committees. This program, which is mainly to exchange experience in organizing assistance for seafarers during stops of ships in ports, Finance ISWAN – International Seafarers` Welfare and Assistance Network (international network of social services and assistance to seafarers).

The honorary guest of the meeting, Mrs. S. Welch welcomed the desire of the port of Odessa to take part in the program of cooperation of the port committees and, in turn, shared with Ukrainian colleagues the information on activities in ports around the world of activists Sailors' Society — an organization that in 2018 will celebrate its 200th anniversary.

Also, according to T. Tarasik, members of the Port Committee considered the current issues of promotion of Seamen's club of the port of Odessa in the service of foreign seamen in the port, the possibility of organizing on the basis of the port system of psycho-social support for seafarers and employees of shore structures to improve the resistance to stress and prevent nervous and mental disorders.

All matters considered by the Committee of the Odessa Port on 18.08.2016, are reflected in the voted resolution, which is the basis for realization of these plans into reality.

REFERENCE: The first in Ukraine Port Committee was established in the port of Odessa on February 28, 2013 on the basis of Interclub of the port of Odessa. Its function is to coordinate the activities of «Seamen's Club», port authorities, border guards, religious missions and public organizations to assist mariners in addressing their domestic, social and religious issues.