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May 2026
Dear Supporter,
Welcome to the May edition of Seapost, The Seafarers' Charity's e-newsletter. We’re so grateful for your continued support and we’ve packed this edition with exciting updates and ways you can make a real difference to seafarers' lives. We hope you enjoy reading it!
Best wishes,
Luca Selvaggio
Editor
National Fishing Remembrance Day 2026
Sunday 10 May marked the third National Fishing Remembrance Day, a UK-wide day of reflection held across coastal communities to honour those lost at sea and stand with the families they leave behind. Services took place across the country in remembrance of those who have died in the fishing industry, one of the most dangerous peacetime occupations.
Organised by The Seafarers’ Charity, The Fishermen’s Mission, Stella Maris, Seafish and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the day serves as a powerful reminder of the risks faced by fishers and the sacrifices made to bring seafood to our tables. It also reinforces the need for continued action to improve safety, strengthen working practices, and prevent future loss of life in fishing communities.
Representing The Seafarers’ Charity, Chief Executive Deborah Layde attended the remembrance event in Newlyn, Cornwall, alongside The Fishermen’s Mission Chair Mark Greet and members of the local fishing community. In Grimsby, Impact Director Tina Barnes attended a service at Grimsby Minster, followed by a procession to the Fishermen’s Memorial where wreaths were laid on behalf of The Seafarers’ Charity and partners. She was joined by Melanie Onn, MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes and Vice Chair of the APPG on Fisheries, alongside other sector partners.
At The Seafarers’ Charity, we are committed to improving safety for fishers in the UK and internationally through our convening power, advocacy and grant funding, including the International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS) programme, which is administered by The Seafarers’ Charity and funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation in partnership with FISH Platform.
Congratulations to Our 2026 London Marathon Runners!
We are incredibly proud to celebrate our #TeamSeafarersKGFS runners who took on the 2026 TCS London Marathon in support of seafarers in need and their families.
From first-time runners to experienced athletes chasing personal bests, everyone who ran for us showed outstanding determination, resilience and a strong commitment to supporting seafarers and their families around the world.
A special thank you to HMS Wellington and their team for hosting a fantastic post-marathon reception, bringing everyone together to celebrate the achievement, and to all those who have supported and donated so far.
If you have not yet had the chance to donate, there is still time to support our runners and their fundraising pages. Every contribution makes a real difference.
You can view highlights from the event here.
Feeling inspired? You can already register your interest for charity places in the 2027 TCS London Marathon. If you would like to take part and help support seafarers and their families, we would love to hear from you. Contact our events team at events@theseafarerscharity.org or visit our 2027 TCS London Marathon page.
IFFS Partners with Marks & Spencer to Strengthen Fishing Safety in Indonesia
The International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS), managed by The Seafarers’ Charity, works globally to reduce risk and protect lives in the fishing sector, having already reached more than 180,000 fishers worldwide.
Through this collaboration, Marks & Spencer has invested in an IFFS-funded project in Indonesia, delivered with the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF), which will work directly with fishing communities to understand why accidents happen and co-design practical training in safety, first aid and financial management. The project will help fishers build skills, reduce risk and strengthen livelihoods, while also generating evidence to inform future safety policy and support more resilient fishing communities.
New FISH SAFE film: Stay Afloat - Choosing the Right Lifejacket for Fishing
One lifejacket does not fit every job at sea, and choosing the right one can make the difference between life and death.
This new FISH SAFE film, explores how comfort, fit, buoyancy, durability and freedom of movement all influence whether a lifejacket is worn on deck and how effectively it performs when it is needed most.
Developed with fishers, for fishers, and based on research with UK fishing communities, the film focuses on practical safety at sea.
Man overboard incidents remain one of the leading causes of fatalities in the fishing industry. The right lifejacket is a critical last line of defence.
Connect with us at Posidonia 2026
Taking place from 1–5 June in Athens, Posidonia is one of the world’s leading maritime exhibitions, bringing together thousands of industry professionals from across the world.
As an official charity partner for Posidonia Events 2026, we are proud to be part of this global gathering, highlighting the vital role of seafarer welfare in building a sustainable, resilient maritime industry and strengthening engagement across the global maritime community.
On 31 May, our Business Development Director, Temi Binitie, will take part in the Posidonia Running Event in Piraeus alongside colleagues from Women in Maritime, raising funds and awareness.
Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service 2026
Nominations for the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service 2026 are open until 31 May, giving just over two weeks left to put forward individuals deserving of national recognition.
This prestigious honour celebrates individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the Merchant Navy and the wider maritime community, shining a spotlight on service, dedication and impact.
If you know someone whose contribution merits recognition, we encourage committee members to share this opportunity widely through your organisations and networks so that outstanding service across the sector can be properly recognised.
Sea Views S2E4 - Nuclear Ships Explained: Maritime Reactors and the Future of Shipping
In this episode of Sea Views, Julia Gosling and Adam Parnell speak with Martin King, Nuclear Systems Manager, and Paul Roberts IEng MIMechE, Senior Engineer from Naval Solutions, to explore one of the most debated topics in modern maritime: nuclear propulsion.
Drawing on decades of experience in submarine operations and nuclear engineering, the discussion examines how nuclear reactors function at sea, why they are being reconsidered for commercial shipping, and the key barriers to adoption.
The conversation covers reactor design and safety systems, the potential role of microreactors in decarbonising shipping, and the challenges posed by insurance, regulation and public perception. It offers a grounded, practical perspective on a technology increasingly part of the wider conversation about the future of maritime.
Sea Views S2E5 - Strait of Hormuz: Seafarer Stress, Conflict Zones & Ship Safety
This special episode responds to the growing number of seafarers operating in an active and increasingly uncertain conflict environment in the Persian Gulf.
Julia Gosling is joined by Dave Watkins (CHIRP Maritime), Capt. Samarth Sinha and Dr Rachel Glynn-Williams for a grounded conversation about what life at sea really looks like when commercial shipping intersects with geopolitical tension.
Rather than treating this as a distant issue, the discussion focuses on the lived reality onboard — from isolation, fatigue and uncertainty to the psychological pressure of working in a high-risk zone, and the importance of leadership, peer support and post-incident care.
At its core, this episode is about the people behind global trade and the conditions they continue to work in to keep it moving.
