2003-12-06 | Unknown author

Seafarer's now have a Seamen's Club

Constanta has again an exclusive club for seafarers.

After more than 50 years, the port city of Constanta once again benefits from a club of sailors everywhere * The work was conceived and completed by the trade union group of the Free Union of Navigators, under the patronage of the International Federation of Carriers, based in London * The funds were granted by ITF London * The value of the expenses made for the arrangement of the "Seamens Club" headquarters amounts to 340,000 dollars * From now on, foreign and Romanian navigators transiting Constanta Port will be able to benefit from the free services provided of this club * In all the ports of the world there are such clubs for sailors, these being patronized by the Catholic Church

Here that, after years of torture, the leaders of the Free Union of Navigators in Constanta managed to finally see their dream with their own eyes. Yesterday morning, in the presence of the Minister of Transport, Miron Mitrea, the inaugural ribbon of the "Seamens Club" headquarters in Constanta was cut. In the area of ​​the K4 block, located on Traian Street, on the ground floor of which is the current navigators' club, on the side with Constanta Port, the roads were blocked for several hours by police cars, in order to ensure the protection of important personalities. event. The club's premises, reading rooms, libraries, gyms, bedrooms for navigators in transit, showers, kitchens, bar, all cover an area of ​​about 1,000 square meters. The impressive size of the establishment for sailors instantly created the quality of the most complex and largest club of its kind in Europe.

The first after the war

Such an exclusive club, ie only for sailors, existed in Constanta in the years 1930-1940. It was located in the peninsular area, somewhere, behind the current Archdiocese. The establishment at that time was administered according to the Western model, being run by Catholic priests. During Russian airstrikes, the building was completely destroyed. Since then and until now, in Constanta, but also in other port cities, there has been no such establishment. The opportunity to set up a sailors' club came only after the events of December '89. Prior to this period, the ruling communists did not accept the establishment of such a club for reasons known only to them. The idea of ​​setting up the establishment came with the first free trade unions of navigators in the old commercial fleet. Due to specific reasons of the Romanian transition period, the idea could not be put into practice until after 14 years. Abroad, in most ports there have been such navigator clubs since the world. Here come the sailors who are at the port of call. Here I can always find a quick opportunity to communicate with those at home, I can read or borrow a book, a magazine, etc., I can play billiards, table tennis, that is, in a word, the Seamens Club is the place where the navigator can relax and spend his free time between trips, in the most advantageous conditions. In Constanta, those from SLN declared that the services for sailors will be free. The investment costs amount to 340 thousand US dollars, an amount that was made available by ITF London. The money was used only for arranging the interiors of the current club. For the optimal operation of the club's services, SLN will call for financial participations from foreign and Romanian shipowners whose ships and crews transit the Port of Constanta. In this sense, the most important shipping agents from the Port of Constanta have already been informed in order to develop a way of contacting and obtaining the necessary funds from shipowners.

Unknown author