October 2023

Dear Supporter,

Welcome to the October edition of Seapost, The Seafarers' Charity's e-newsletter. In this issue, we're excited to share fantastic updates and important initiatives.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all who joined us in celebrating the brave men and women behind the Merchant Navy flag on 3 September. Their unwavering courage and dedication sustained vital supply lines during both World Wars and continue to play a crucial role in transporting over 95% of the UK's trade today. If you haven't already, there's still time to show your support by donating to our Merchant Navy Day Appeal.

On 11 October, The Seafarers' Charity and Trinity House proudly hosted the Annual National Service for Seafarers at St. Paul's Cathedral, a longstanding tradition uniting seafarers across various maritime professions since 1905. 

In this issue, we are excited to announce the launch of a new fund dedicated to improving safety standards in the global fishing industry, the new International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS), with a focus on The Global South. This collaboration with Lloyd’s Register Foundation and the Fishing Industry Safety & Health (FISH) Platform reinforces our commitment to fishing safety. We are also delighted to sponsor the next All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Fisheries meeting on this vital topic, scheduled for 24 October.

For those looking for new challenges in 2024, we invite you to participate in our exciting challenge events. Whether it's the TCS London Marathon 2024 or the 24 Peaks Challenge, you can support seafarers in need and their families. This year, for the 24 Peaks Challenge, we're introducing three exciting options: Gold 24 Peaks, Silver 21 Peaks, and Bronze 7 Peaks. Join us in these adventurous endeavours and help us make a difference in the lives of seafarers and their families.

For more information and resources, please visit our website. We deeply appreciate your continued support and hope you enjoy reading this edition of Seapost.

Best wishes,

Luca Selvaggio

Editor

There is still time to show your support to the people behind the Red Ensign

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in the Fly the Red Ensign campaign on 3 September and contributed to the Merchant Navy Day Appeal. 

Although Merchant Navy Day has already passed, our deep gratitude for the brave men and women who've served as merchant seafarers knows no bounds. Their incredible courage and unwavering determination have played a vital role in sustaining supply lines during both World Wars and continue to do so today as essential key workers, ensuring the delivery of crucial goods like food and fuel.

The opportunity to show your support remains and your donations will make a tangible difference in the lives of serving and retired Merchant Navy seafarers and their families. Thank you for your generosity.

The Annual National Service for Seafarers 2023 is set to return!

We would like to extend our deepest appreciation to everyone who joined us for the Annual National Service for Seafarers (ANSS) on Wednesday, 11 October. Your presence at this esteemed maritime tradition, organised by The Seafarers' Charity and Trinity House, was deeply appreciated.

The Service for Seafarers has been conducted almost every year since 1905, uniting seafarers from the Merchant and Royal Navies, as well as those from our fishing fleets, workboats, cruise liners, commercial shipping, yachts, ferries, and indeed anyone who earns or has earned a living from working at sea. This unique service brings together individuals from across the maritime professions, representatives from the seafaring community, and various maritime welfare charities, nautical schools, maritime youth groups, and veterans’ associations.

This year, we also commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, paying tribute to the 26,000 Merchant Navy and 23,000 Royal Navy seafarers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

To support the continued success of this event, we kindly invite you to consider a voluntary donation. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and helps ensure that we can continue this tradition. Additionally, we invite you to mark your calendars for the next ANSS, scheduled for Wednesday, 9 October 2024, at 16:30. We look forward to another memorable gathering and your continued support.