Seapost - August 2023

You will have already seen our plans to celebrate Merchant Navy Day and we hope very much that you will join us in celebrating the faces behind the Merchant Navy flag on Merchant Navy Day, Sunday 3 September. It's a moment to honour the extraordinary men and women seafarers who kept supply lines open during two World Wars, continuing as key workers responsible for transporting over 95% of the UK's imports and exports to our island nation.

During London International Shipping Week 2023, in collaboration with Sailors’ Society, Stella Maris, and The Mission to Seafarers, we are hosting a conference that zooms in on seafarer welfare and wellbeing and how we can continue to collaborate with each other and with industry to improve seafarers' welfare and safety. As the maritime industry evolves, our dedication to the welfare of seafarers remains unwavering.

Highlighting the spirit of unity and commemorative reverence, the Annual National Service for Seafarers, organised in collaboration with Trinity House, is scheduled at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday 11 October 2023. We invite you to be part of this wonderful event, honouring seafarers globally, recognising their invaluable contributions, and paying tribute to over 26,000 Merchant Navy and 23,000 Royal Navy seafarers who lost their lives during the deadliest and longest battle of World War II.

We're delighted to announce our sponsorship of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) meeting on fishing safety, taking place on 24 October and underscoring our commitment to this cause.

Let's also applaud the winners of our #SafetyDrillTime competition, acknowledging their commitment to onboard safety.

Addressing a pressing concern, we're glad to share our involvement in a new coalition with other seafarers’ welfare organizations aimed at combating abuse, bullying, and harassment at sea.

Podcasts are a powerful platform, and we're thrilled to announce we are funding 5 episodes of the maritime safety podcast, Sea Views, in collaboration with Chirp Maritime.

Lastly, for those seeking new challenges in 2024, we extend an invitation to join our challenge events such as the London Marathon to support seafarers in need and their families while taking part in exciting team bonding activities. If you cannot support us, please do pass this email on to your friends, family, and colleagues.