Mission to Seafarers Australia

What Mission to Seafarers Australia does

Mission to Seafarers Australia (legal entity: The Australian Council of the Mission to Seafarers Inc., ABN 67403225135) is a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Type 1 charity founded in 1856 that provides practical, emotional, and spiritual welfare support to seafarers visiting Australian ports. It operates a network of more than 30 drop-in seafarer centres and chaplain-led ship-visit programmes spanning major Australian commercial ports from Sydney, Newcastle, and Melbourne to Fremantle, Port Hedland, and Darwin, plus a new Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) centre opening in 2025. Core services include welfare and emergency support, transport, shopping assistance, internet and phone access, the WeCare mental health initiative, and the Seafarers Happiness Index research programme, all delivered through a global Mission network covering 200+ ports in 50 countries.

The organisation is not a technology or product company and has no proprietary software platform; its "products" are physical welfare services, awareness campaigns (Sea Sunday, Christmas Appeal), publications (Prayer Diary, Pilot On Board book), and the WeCare programme. There is no AI/ML capability and no disclosed API or digital product surface.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through charitable giving: tax-deductible donations via PayPal and direct deposit, corporate sponsorship from maritime-industry funders (TK Foundation, ITF Seafarers Trust), legacy/bequest giving via the EveryWill partnership, and a small but diversified merchandise e-commerce operation (branded lanyards, umbrellas, flags, prayer diaries, donation boxes, commemorative books). The paid headcount is thin (6 listed employees), with frontline service delivery carried out by chaplains, lay chaplains, and volunteers distributed across port centres. The go-to-market is community-led, relying on faith-based networks, maritime-industry partnerships, and digital channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, website) to reach both seafarer beneficiaries and donor supporters.

Name

Mission to Seafarers Australia

Legal name

The Australian Council of the Mission to Seafarers Inc.

Website

https://mts.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mission to Seafarers Australia is a registered maritime welfare charity (founded 1856) providing practical, emotional, and spiritual support to seafarers through 30+ drop-in port centres across Australia and a new Papua New Guinea centre opening in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Welfare Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Vessel Husbandry & Crew Services (Crew Change, Meet & Assist, Transport, Shore Passes) (TLAHAJAB)

Keywords

• Maritime welfare services
• Seafarer support programs
• Port chaplaincy services
• Maritime charity donations
• Seafarer mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakleigh

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices38 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and maritime industry stakeholders. Donations of $2.00 and over are allowable tax deductions as the organization is a DGR Type 1 endorsed charity.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including uniforms, lanyards, umbrellas, pins, maps, books, and donation boxes through the online MTS Shop.
3. Legacy Giving: Bequests and gifts in wills from supporters, free online will service offered through partner EveryWill.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mission to Seafarers Australia provides practical, emotional, and spiritual welfare support to seafarers through a network of chaplains, staff, and volunteers operating 30+ drop-in seafarers' centres at Australian ports. Services include ship visits, welfare and emergency support, foreign exchange, transport, internet access, and the WeCare mental health programme. The charity also funds its mission through tax-deductible donations, sponsorships, legacy giving, and an online branded merchandise shop.

Product overview

Mission to Seafarers Australia operates as a maritime welfare charity providing practical, emotional, and spiritual support to seafarers through a network of over 30 physical centres at Australian ports, supplemented by ship visits, emergency welfare services, and the WeCare mental health programme. The organization also conducts the Seafarers Happiness Index to monitor welfare trends. Revenue generation includes an e-commerce merchandise shop selling branded items (uniforms, lanyards, umbrellas, flags, prayer diaries, books) with proceeds funding welfare operations, plus donation processing and legacy giving programmes. An annual Sea Sunday campaign engages churches in awareness and fundraising activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ship Visits and Seafarers' Centre Services Chaplains and volunteers provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support to seafarers through ship visits and drop-in centres at 30+ Australian ports, offering welfare services, emergency support, crew transfers, shopping services, and quiet spaces.
• WeCare Programme Mental health initiative empowering seafarers and their families to discuss difficult issues and safeguard their mental wellbeing.
• Seafarers Happiness Index Annual index measuring and reporting on seafarer welfare and happiness levels across global maritime ports.
• MTS Online Shop (Merchandise) Online shop selling branded merchandise including uniforms, lanyards, umbrellas, flags, donation boxes, prayer diaries, volunteer badges, map posters, and commemorative items; proceeds support seafarer welfare.
• Pilot On Board Book 250-page hardcover book by Brendan Moloney about the Port Phillip Sea Pilots' history since 1839; limited edition with photos and illustrations.
• Prayer Diary Australasian Prayer Diary for supporters, available as printed booklet or downloadable PDF. Contains contacts for all Mission centres and prayers for seafarers and ministry.
• Donation Services Tax-deductible donation processing via PayPal and direct deposit (BSB 036 306, ACC 430 614), supporting centre operations and expansion.
• Legacy Giving Programme Bequests and gifts in wills from supporters, with a free online will service offered through partner EveryWill by Gathered Here.
• Sea Sunday Campaign Annual awareness campaign held on the second Sunday of July, providing churches and organizations with resources (flyers, posters, sermon notes, order of service, prayer resources, children's activities) to celebrate and support seafarers.
• Contact a Chaplain Service 24/7 chaplain contact line for seafarers, reachable by phone or email ([email protected]), with chaplains listed on the find a centre page.
• Christmas Appeal Annual fundraising appeal for seafarers during the Christmas period.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporters and supporting.

• Australian Maritime Welfare Services (AMWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMWS is a maritime welfare organization partner working alongside Mission to Seafarers in supporting seafarers.
• HFW (Global Lawyers)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHFW provides governance assistance to Mission to Seafarers Australia as their global lawyers.
• Cusack & CosupportersStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as supporters of Mission to Seafarers Australia.
• EveryWill by Gathered HeresupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFree online will service partner enabling supporters to include charitable bequests to the Mission to Seafarers in their wills.
• Australian Council of the Mission to Seafarers Inc.coreOthersThe governing body of Mission to Seafarers in Australia, registered charity ABN 67403225135.
• International Maritime Welfare Association (ISWAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network - listed as a resource link for seafarers.
• Stella MariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaritime welfare organization working alongside MTS Newcastle and listed as a resource for seafarers.
• Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's maritime safety regulator - listed as a resource link for seafarers on welfare matters.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TK Foundation: Danish-based maritime welfare grant-making foundation supporting seafarer welfare initiatives globally. Listed as a major sponsor of MTS and a peer funder in the maritime welfare sector.
• Australian Maritime Welfare Services (AMWS): Australian maritime welfare organization explicitly listed as a strategic partner of MTS. Provides overlapping ship-visit and seafarer welfare services in Australian ports, making it a direct domestic peer.
• ITF Seafarers Trust: Affiliated to the International Transport Workers' Federation, this trust funds welfare projects for seafarers. Listed as a sponsor of MTS Australia and competes/funds in the same maritime welfare space.
• Stella Maris (formerly Apostleship of the Sea): Global Catholic maritime charity providing ship visits, port welfare services, and chaplaincy to seafarers across 50+ countries. Named as a partner alongside MTS Newcastle and is the most directly comparable seafarer welfare charity worldwide.
• Seafarers UK (The Seafarers' Charity): UK-based maritime grant-making charity supporting seafarer welfare projects globally. Comparable operating model focused on seafarer welfare funding and direct service provision.
• Sailors' Society: International maritime welfare charity delivering seafarer support, training, and welfare services across port communities. Competes directly with MTS for donor and corporate maritime sponsorship dollars.
• International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN): Industry-wide network coordinating maritime welfare providers globally, listed as a partner/resource by MTS. Functions as both a peer and an umbrella body for seafarer welfare organizations.

Regional players

• Seamen's Church Institute (SCI): US-based maritime welfare charity serving seafarers at Port Newark and other American ports. Comparable mission and service model (ship visits, drop-in centers, welfare support) but US-focused.
• Seafarers' House (Port Everglades): US-based non-profit seafarer welfare center providing ship visits, drop-in services, and welfare support at Port Everglades. Comparable service model but operates regionally in North America.
• Norwegian Seafarers' Mission (Sjømanns kirken): Norwegian maritime welfare organization providing chaplaincy and seafarer welfare services across Norwegian ports and internationally. Comparable faith-based charitable model with port-based welfare delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MTSAustCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/MTSAustCouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mtsaustralia
• Instagraminstagram.com/mts_aust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mission to Seafarers Australia