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Oldenburg’s mayor visits the 50 Miles club

Mayor Jürgen Krogmann informed himself on site about the work of the Seafarer’s Social Service Oldenburg (SSSO).

The 50 Miles team with Mayor Krogmann (2nd from left) Photo: © Stefan Stüber

On September 28th, Jürgen Krogmann visited the premises of the Seafarer’s Club 50 Miles as part of his inaugural visit as patron of the new institution under the umbrella of the Humanist Association. He took plenty of time in conversation with staff and volunteers of the SSSO to learn out about the situation of seafarers in general and on site.

According to Krogmann, the SSSO, which was launched on March 1, „represents a real enrichment for our port and our city. The offer of the Oldenburg regional group of the Humanist Association closes an important gap: Seafarers can now finally find social care in accordance with the Maritime Labor Convention in our port“, Krogmann explained in his greeting. „The Corona pandemic in particular has shown how necessary social care is for seafarers. For the ship’s crews, these facilities often provide the only opportunity to obtain daily necessities and socialize. But it is not only in times of crisis that seafarers need support services; with the Seafarer’s Social Service, we are also well positioned for the future“, continued the Mayor of Oldenburg. As a thank-you for his visit, the passionate sailor Jürgen Krogmann received a 50 Miles team cap from regional director of the Humanist Association, Jürgen Steinecke.

Jürgen Krogmann also left thanks and congratulations in the 50 Miles guestbook. Photo: © Stefan Stüber

The SSSO’s tasks include providing pastoral and social care for sailors. The SSSO relies on both full-time and volunteer staff. For volunteers, there is an internal training program that concludes with certification. Also on September 28, Axel Kittel, a citizen of Oldenburg and co-initiator of the SSSO, was the first volunteer to receive the certificate attesting to his special qualification.

HV’s Regional Director Jürgen Steinecke and Axel Kittel (from left) Photo: © Stefan Stüber