SEVEN staff face losing their jobs when Southampton’s Centre for Seafarers shuts at the end of the month.

Redundancy consultations have begun ahead of the iconic service’s closure on April 29, as reported by the Daily Echo yesterday.

The building in Queen’s Terrace, which provides rest and support for sailors after months at sea, is likely to be sold if Centres for Seafarers terminates its lease.

Mission to Seafarers, the charity which owns the building and has run the service since 1884, has yet to consider what it will do with the proceeds.

Executive director Martin Sandford said it was too early to think about.

He said: “The honest answer to what we will do with the proceeds of the building, if and when we sell it, is ‘I don’t know’.

“Our commitment to maintaining a service for seafarers in Southampton is absolute and ongoing.

“Whether that means buildings or more people or coordinating more volunteers, we’re working through at the moment.”

Centres for Seafarers was unable to comment on whether it would scrap its lease.

But chairman Alexander Campbell said: “Talks are under way with churches, charities and local businesses to explore new options for provision.

“In other port towns, churches have got involved in providing facilities and volunteers, and cafes have been set up as hubs not only for seafarers but for public use too.

“These are models that have worked well elsewhere and we are keen to explore possibilities, keeping a focus at all times on the needs of the seafarer – communication with home, spiritual support and practical help with matters like shopping and currency exchange.”

Chaplains could visit sailors on board more often as shipping patterns have left them with less time in port, as vessels are now turned around quicker than ever before.

Mr Campbell added: “In the meantime, drop-in cabins for seafarers at Southampton docks and Fawley will remain open and ship visiting by chaplains, staff and volunteers will continue and may be expanded.”

The three charities which teamed up to run the centre – the Mission, Apostleship of the Sea and the Sailors’ Society – have all pledged their services to the city.

The original service launched its first centre in a converted house in Town Quay in 1884 and moved to the Queen’s Terrace building in 1936.

Mission to Seamen, as it was then known, campaigned for better working conditions and cared for retired sailors and lonely wives.