Pratik Bijlani –
The Royal Bombay Seamen’s Society (RBSS) marked a significant milestone in its long history of seafarer welfare with the inauguration of the newly refurbished rooms at the Prince of Wales Seamen’s Club in Ballard Estate, Mumbai. The event brought together senior maritime leaders, welfare representatives and members of the shipping community to witness the completion of Phase 1 of a larger modernization programme aimed at upgrading the nearly century-old institution while preserving its maritime heritage.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chief Guest Mr Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping and Chairman of the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society (SWFS), and Guest of Honour Capt BK Tyagi, CMD of The Shipping Corporation of India. The event also highlighted the continuing importance of welfare infrastructure for seafarers at a time when the maritime industry is increasingly focusing on crew wellbeing, mental health and quality living standards.
The Prince of Wales Seamen’s Club has long served as an important welfare and accommodation facility for seafarers visiting Mumbai. Operated by RBSS, the institution traces its roots back to the Bombay Harbour Mission and Seamen’s Institute before formally becoming The Royal Bombay Seamen’s Society in 1930 after receiving Royal Patronage from King George V. Since its inception, the society has focused on providing affordable accommodation, recreation and support services for seafarers visiting the port city.
During the event, Capt OP Dhondiyal, Honorary Secretary of RBSS, spoke about the vision behind the phased modernization initiative and the need to upgrade facilities that had gradually begun showing signs of age. While the club remained operational, common complaints from seafarers were related to outdated accommodation, damaged flooring and aging infrastructure that no longer reflected modern expectations of comfort and utility.
“Our commitment to seafarers has remained unchanged since the society’s inception — to provide comfortable accommodation in Mumbai at a moderate cost. With this phased modernization, we are upgrading a century-old facility through careful planning and professional expertise, while ensuring seafarers continue receiving the welfare and support, they deserve,” said Capt Dhondiyal.
He emphasized that the modernization was carefully planned rather than undertaken in an ad hoc manner. Since the club continues to accommodate seafarers throughout the renovation process, RBSS adopted a phased execution strategy to ensure uninterrupted services. To support the project professionally, the society appointed a Chartered Engineer with expertise in architecture and construction management as Project Management Consultant (PMC).
The first phase of the project was completed on 20 March 2026 and included the refurbishment of 18 rooms with attached washrooms at a cost of approximately Rs. 2 crore. The work took around nine months to complete. The next phase, already underway, will focus on upgrading an additional 27 rooms and is expected to be completed within the next 10 to 11 months. Plans are also in place to renovate the building façade and common areas after the monsoon season.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Jagannathan highlighted the broader importance of modernizing maritime welfare infrastructure across India while preserving the heritage associated with long-standing seafarer institutions. He reflected on the need to create welfare spaces that provide dignity, comfort and pride to maritime professionals and noted that such projects require collective support from industry stakeholders and welfare organizations.
“We are committed to transforming seafarers’ welfare infrastructure into spaces of pride, dignity and comfort while preserving India’s maritime heritage. Through modernization, digital transformation and collective support, we aim to create quality facilities for seafarers across the coastline and ensure they receive the respect and care they truly deserve,” said Mr. Jagannathan.
The event not only celebrated the completion of Phase 1 but also reinforced the growing recognition within the maritime sector that seafarer welfare facilities must evolve alongside the industry itself. With modernization now underway, RBSS is positioning the Prince of Wales Seamen’s Club to continue serving future generations of seafarers while retaining its historic identity at the heart of Mumbai’s maritime community.
Marex Media