The Merchant Navy Welfare Board has returned to Southampton after an absence of almost 17 years.

The welfare board left the city when it closed its last-but-one seafarers' hotel in the Avenue. Until recently it was based at the Merchant Navy Hotel in central London, which closed at the end of last year.

The move south is intended both to reduce costs and enable the board to be closer to the "front line" of the shipping industry in one the United Kingdom's main ports.

Founded in 1948 as the national charity, the board is entrusted with co-ordinating welfare work among the merchant seafarers' organisations.

It promotes welfare services among merchant seafarers and their dependants, current and past, including those from overseas visiting the United Kingdom ports.

The new offices in Palmerston Road were opened by the mayor of Southampton, Brian Parnell.