The Mission to Seafarers unveils new Hong Kong ‘Mariners’ centre
The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) in Hong Kong proudly hosted a Grand Opening Ceremony and Cocktail Reception for ‘The Mariners’ during HK Maritime Week. The centre is a landmark development on Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, alongside the newly consecrated Saint Peter’s Seafarers’ Church, custom-designed to support and care for visiting seafarers, reaffirming MtS’s 160-year commitment to the care and welfare of those who work at sea.
The opening marks the culmination of a seven-year redevelopment of the original 1960s Mariners’ building. The site has been transformed into a 50-storey building, with the Mission occupying ten floors that house a world-class facility combining hospitality, worship, and welfare services for the maritime community. Delivered through a transparent, government-approved joint venture with a commercial developer which ensures a sustainable foundation for its ongoing ministry in Hong Kong and the wider region.
‘The Mariners’ sets a new global benchmark for seafarer support and hospitality. The lower ten floors are dedicated to MtS’s facilities, including 75 four-star standard rooms for seafarers joining or leaving ships, as well as a church, gymnasium, swimming pool, function rooms, and the Signals Coffee Lounge and Bar, a maritime-themed social hub. The upper floors are operated as a Kimpton Hotel, part of the Intercontinental Hotels Group.
The news comes in light of the latest results of the Seafarer Happiness Index, which highlighted a decline in seafarer wellbeing, particularly regarding shore leave.
The Reverend Canon Stephen Miller, Senior Chaplain Hong Kong and Regional Director, East Asia, MtS, comments: “The redevelopment of the offices and accompanying Mariners Hotel has been a journey of 14 years, with seven years of negotiating with different parties to secure a development partner and seven years of building. But this has been about far more than a building project: it’s about creating a paradigm shift in how seafarers are treated. The building is a culmination of years of work, ignited by necessity, but driven by a desire to change the way seafarers are seen and supported.”
‘The Mariners’ officially opened during Hong Kong Maritime Week - with a ceremonial bellringing with a donated ship’s bell and a reception with over 250 attendees from the maritime sector in Hong Kong. This follows on from its soft launch in September, which featured events including the East Asia Regional Conference - bringing together representatives from 13 stations across 9 countries.
The Sailors’ Home and Mission to Seafarers (Hong Kong) now employs approximately seventy-three hotel staff, alongside three chaplains, four full-time ship visitors, and a dedicated boat crew who visit ships at anchorage. All staff receive specialist training to understand the unique needs of seafarers, ensuring that compassion and care remain central to every aspect of the Mission’s operations. The opening of ‘The Mariners’ marks a renewed pledge by The Sailors Home and Mission to Seafarers to provide world-class hospitality, worship, and welfare facilities for those who dedicate their lives to serving at sea.