Cargos and Cultures Cross the Docks

February 1966: A place for seafaring crews to disembark, relax and gather is created.

Cargos aren’t the only things that arrive at the port—people do, too. To offer these seafarers some local hospitality, the Fort Vancouver Seamen’s Hospitality Center opened in 1966 in a house in downtown Vancouver. John Larsson was appointed the director of the facility.

The Port of Vancouver was an early supporter of the center and has since expanded its backing in a variety of ways. Most significant, the port made room for the center in a new facility that was closer to the ships and their crews on Terminal 4. Housing what is now known as the Fort Vancouver Seafarers Center, the building was dedicated on May 17, 1996 at its new location at the port.

Over the years, Vancouver residents have worked together to aid the visiting mariners. Still located at the port’s Terminal 4, the center provides a hospitality house as well as a free transportation service should crews wish to see movies or have dinner in town.

Reverend Carl Landerholm, the center’s executive director from 1992 to 2004, remembers, “Previously, the crewmen had been wandering around downtown at night, kind of aimless, not really knowing where they were going. They can call this place home, have some recreation and read.”

As many as 30 different countries are represented at the Seafarers Center annually. Kent Williams, the center’s director since July 2004, ably continues the efforts of his predecessors, along with a loyal group of volunteers.

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