Mission news archive

The Revd Tom Heffer - Memorial Service announcement

Details of the London-based Memorial Service for the life of the Revd Tom Heffer are released today. MORE

Stunning photography from a life at sea goes on sale in aid of the Mission

A selection of original photographs from four years spent sailing the globe have gone on sale in aid of the Mission to Seafarers. MORE

Hong Kong: Chaplain's swift action helps save seafarer's life

The Revd Stephen Miller has told how swift action by himself and colleagues helped save the life of a Filipino seafarer at the Hong Kong Mariners’ Club. MORE

MtS completes 'training of trainers' course on Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

Mission is first Christian maritime organisation to have one of its chaplains complete ILO's training of trainers on the application of the MLC, 2006. MORE

Remembering TITANIC

MtS leads service of remembrance to mark 100 years since the most famous maritime disaster in history. MORE

Mission's director of chaplaincy is travelling with the TITANIC MEMORIAL CRUISE. From the mid-Atlantic, Canon Huw Mosford describes life on board in the run up to the MtS-led Service of Remembrance MORE

MV Lady Norma I home safe after perilous journey home

11 seafarers have completed a 3-month voyage to Malaysia via pirate waters on a 50-year-old cargo ship that took a year to fix. MtS supported the crew during their stay in Penzance. MORE

Titanic Centenary Cruise to help modern seafarers around the world

100 years since the Titanic set sail on its maiden and only voyage, the Mission will lead a service of remembrance on board the Titanic Memorial Cruise, which follows the iconic vessel’s route. MORE

An Easter message from the Secretary General

The Revd Tom Heffer thanks all those whose support ensures the Mission's transforming ministry continues to reach seafarers in 250 ports around the world. MORE

Snap happy! Second Life@Sea photography competition launched

We want to show people what life on board ship is really like, so we’re inviting seafarers to submit their photos to our 2012 Life@Sea competition. MORE

Mission supports crew after Belfast collision

MtS Belfast is supporting the crew of a cargo ship which collided with a passenger ferry. MORE

We are proud to announce the official sponsors for the Flying Angel Ride 2012

Registration is now open for the 2012 Flying Angel Ride on 27 May. The event is sponsored by Lloyd's Register and V.Ships, with The Maersk Company sponsoring the post-event celebration. MORE

All eyes on Somalia

Actions speak louder than words, says The Mission to Seafarers. MORE

Oceans apart: remembering loved ones by the sea divided

Across the world, St Valentine’s Day is a time to declare and display our love for sweethearts, spouses and partners, but, for those far out at sea it can be a very lonely day. MORE

MtS sends Loyal Greetings to The Queen

On the occasion of HM The Queen's accession, The Mission to Seafarers sends Loyal Greetings to its Patron MORE

Raffle winners announced!

The winners of the Flying Angel Prize Draw have been selected! MORE

IMB report: slight drop in attacks but piracy off Somalia remains biggest threat to shipping

Attacks have fallen due to increased security, says International Maritime Bureau's annual piracy report, but Indian Ocean piracy remains a major threat. MORE

Helping hand: MtS offers assistance to Concordia crew

The Mission has contacted Carnival, parent company of the cruise ship's operator Costa, to see what assistance it might offer to the Concordia crew. MORE

Concordia rescue: UK Foreign Secretary says all UK nationals accounted for

Foreign Secretary William Hague says all British nationals are accounted for. However, anyone concerned about British survivors of the capsized Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia can contact the British Embassy in Rome on (+39) 06 4220 0001 or the Foreign Office in London on 0207 008 1500. MORE

House of Lords recognises work of MtS

Debate on Somalia highlights the human cost of piracy. MORE

Lest we forget: remembering the Leopard crew one year on

Today it is exactly one year since pirates seized the crew of the MV Leopard as she was en route to Mumbai. In a letter to the editor, printed on page 6 of today's Lloyds List, MtS Secretary General the Revd Tom Heffer urges us all to remember the hostages. MORE

Piracy off Somalia: Response to the Commons' Committee report

The MtS has welcomed the Foreign Affairs Select Committee report ‘Piracy off the coast of Somalia’ as a sign that UK politicians are at last genuinely engaging with the issue. MORE

New Year tragedy - MtS Falmouth is foulweather friend

A seafarer was killed yesterday after huge seas hit a ship off the Cornish coast during 73mph winds and the worst storm this winter. MORE

"Most precious cargo on board is the crew" - MtS secretary general writes in Lloyd's List

The Revd Tom Heffer urges the maritime industry not to forget the seafarer hostages thousands of miles from home this Christmas. MORE

Welcome to the new MtS website! Tell us what you think…

The Mission to Seafarers has a new-look website and we’d love to have your feedback. MORE

Christmas message from the Secretary General

"We couldn't do what we do with you," writes the Revd Tom Heffer in his Christmas message. MORE

'Flying Angels' drop in to Falmouth

Falmouth Mission honours helicopter heroes who risk all to rescue seafarers in trouble. MORE

Action not words - Mission urges EU haste on anti-piracy plan

The Mission to Seafarers applauds new European Union plans to build up anti-piracy measures in countries on the Indian Ocean front line. MORE

MtS Hong Kong scoops gong!

Mission's the Revd Peter Ellis wins the Welfare Personality Award at a ceremony in Geneva. MORE

To Russia with Love: MtS helps shipwrecked seafarers phone home

MtS' Holyhead chaplain put two traumatised Russian seafarers in touch with their families after their ship was wrecked in the Irish sea. MORE

Seasonal reunion for Romanian sailors

The Mission to Seafarers has reunited two seafarers stranded in the UK port of Falmouth with their families in time for Christmas. MORE

Princess and star guests add sparkle to MtS carol service

Christmas comes to St Michael Paternoster Royal as the Mission celebrates a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols with special guests. MORE

MtS called to support Russian wreck survivors

MtS chaplain visits two crewmen rescued from MV Swanland after the vessel was smashed by an 'enormous wave' in the Irish Sea. MORE

MtS Australia honoured for ‘outstanding contribution to the welfare of seafarers’

Sydney MtS receives the Seafarers’ Welfare Award at the annual Lloyd’s List Australia Shipping and Maritime Industry Awards. MORE

Seafarers never forget

Today, the Mission in Falmouth received a heart-warming letter of thanks. MORE

Nicky Wynne joins MtS

The Mission to Seafarers is delighted to announce that Nicky Wynne has been appointed as its new director of development. MORE

Hard talk: UK to host major anti-piracy conference

At the Lord Mayor's Banquet, British PM David Cameron announces Britain will host a major conference on Somalia and piracy. MORE

Remembrance Day

The Mission remembers the fallen of two World Wars and those men and women killed or injured in subsequent actions and conflicts. MORE

MtS Secretary General writes on armed guards in Church Times

The Revd Tom Heffer has written to the Church Times in response to the Uk Government's announcement on armed security. MORE

Green light for armed guards on board UK-flagged ships

Mission behind PM's call to arms for ships in pirate waters MORE

Blooming marvellous: Falmouth Mission garden wins award

Falmouth MtS has been awarded a special commendation in the Royal Horticultural Society ‘It's Your Neighbourhood’ Awards for its beautiful garden. MORE

Lambeth Palace reception: MtS shows human cost of piracy

The plight of seafarers held hostage by pirates was the focus of an MtS evening reception at Lambeth Palace on 27th September. MORE

Commemorating Merchant Navy Day

As the UK prepares to celebrate the achievements of British and Commonwealth seafarers this weekend (September 3), the Revd Canon Huw Mosford from The Mission to Seafarers remembers the sacrifices men and women from many nations have made. MORE

Public Affairs update: Select Committee on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia

The Mission to Seafarers reacts to today's hearing of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. MORE

Penny represents MtS volunteers at Buckingham Palace

Falmouth's Mission to Seafarers chairman Penny Phillips, and her partner Graham Hall, also a Mission volunteer, attended the first Royal Garden Party of the year at Buckingham Palace on 29 June. MORE

Setting course for Sea Sunday - don't miss out!

Be part of it - join people across the globe in celebrating Sea Sunday and organising your local Sea Sunday appeal and inspiring church service. MORE

MtS counts down to Day of the Seafarer

The Mission is urging people everywhere to support the International Maritime Organisation's inaugural Day of the Seafarer - by blogging, YouTubing, tweeting, Facebooking , or just thinking and talking about the world's seafarers and what life is like out there on the Big Blue. MORE

Belfast MtS salutes The Princess Royal

Making good her promise to visit the Mission in Belfast after the Icelandic volcano grounded her flight to its 150th birthday celebration, HRH The Princess Royal was guest of honour at the Mission on June 23rd. MORE

MtS supports first ever ‘Day of the Seafarer’

The Mission to Seafarers is supporting the International Maritime Organisation’s ‘Day of the Seafarer’ on Saturday 25th June. MORE

A Statement from The Secretary General: Christchurch Earthquakes

It was with great sadness that we learned of the recent violent earthquake tremors in Christchurch, New Zealand which caused widespread damage. MORE

Sea Sunday goes cyber - download your packs here!

Sea Sunday 2011 will be held on 10th July and the Mission’s pack of vibrant resources to help churches and groups celebrate the day can now be downloaded from this website. MORE

London Marathon runners raise cash for MtS

With sponsorship money still coming in, the Mission is set to receive a cash boost from our Marathon Runners. MORE

Farewell from Friends: Memorial Service for Alison

Family, friends, former colleagues, present and past co-workers from The Mission to Seafarers all gathered for Alison Boyce's memorial service at St Michael Paternoster Royal today, Thursday 14th April MORE

Flying visit: The Princess Royal drops in on Felixstowe

MtS President The Princess Royal today met Mission staff when she visited the seafarers' centre in the Suffolk port of Felixstowe. MORE

Responding to the threat of piracy

At the opening day of the IMOs Legal Committee, the IMO recommitted itself to working for an end to piracy. MORE

The Sea His Parish: 125th Anniversary of MtS Founder

On this day 125 years ago, the Revd Dr John Ashley died in London, his health weakened by a hard life working to help the neglected seafarers of Victorian England MORE

UK Government needs to do more to tackle piracy

As the UK Government announces £6 million pounds for anti-piracy measures, the Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers says they need to do more to take a 'moral lead'. MORE

House of Lords praise for Mission's 'wonderful work'

The 'wonderful work' of The Mission to Seafarers, especially in supporting freed piracy hostages in Mombasa, has been acknowledged in the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the UK's Parliament. MORE

Piracy debate echoes MtS stand

Armed guards should be placed onboard merchant vessels transiting through the Indian Ocean, was the motion carried at a meeting of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association in London last night (Wednesday, 16 March), echoing the recent views of the Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers. MORE

Frontline update: Japan & the Middle East

Following British Government advice, MtS staff serving in Japan and the Middle East have been taking precautionary action in the face of natural disaster and political upheaval. MORE

Marathon Men paddle against piracy

Dynamic duo paddle their own canoe to support the Mission in anti-piracy year MORE

Hollywood Piracy: making a drama out of a crisis

Movie star Tom Hanks to be cast as 'Captain Courageous' MORE

IMO Rep sheds the pounds for MtS

THE UK’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization is sizing himself up for a sponsored diet in aid of The Mission to Seafarers. MORE

Lifetime award for South Tees volunteer

MtS South Tees volunteer Helen Hadfield has been recognised for her work with seafarers and the North East community. MORE

An effective safety management code is key, says MtS

The Mission to Seafarers highlighted the importance of having a really effective safety management system at a recent meeting of the sub-committee of Flag State Implementation at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). MORE

Fight Piracy: A Message from the Secretary General

Today, Tom Heffer, world leader of the Mission to Seafarers writes on the piracy problem in Lloyds List, the influential UK shipping publication. The article is reproduced here on our website. MORE

A Statement: Alison Boyce RIP.

It is with extreme regret we record the tragic news that Alison Boyce, Executive Assistant to the Reverend Canon Huw Mosford, Director of Chaplaincy and Martin Sandford, Executive Director died on Monday 7th February 2011 whilst on holiday in the Lake District. MORE

Double honour for MtS chaplain and wife

Geraldton chaplain, the Revd Bill Ross, and his wife, Jocelyn, have both been recognised in the Australia Day Honours. MORE

Sea Sunday 2011

STOP PRESS! This year’s Sea Sunday theme has been announced by the Mission. It will echo the International Maritime Organisation’s choice of 2011 as a year for the global community to cooperate in responding to the threat of piracy. MORE

The Secretary General's Christmas and New Year Message

The Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers, the Revd Tom Heffer, sent Christmas greetings to seafarers, the shipping industry and supporters in his annual message. MORE

Christmas Carol Concert 2010

THE spirit of Christmas descended upon St Michael Paternoster Royal on Wednesday (8 December) as The Mission to Seafarers celebrated the Christmas story with a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. MORE

Fair Trade: Bournemouth MtS delivers a Christmas cracker

Christmas came early to Bournemouth as the MtS Committee raised a stunning £1,750 for the Mission's work with their annual Christmas Fair and Coffee Morning. MORE

Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols - Sold Out!

Thanks to everyone who is supporting the Mission by joining our President, HRH The Princess Royal, and celebrity readers at the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Michael Paternoster Royal on December 8th. MORE

Lloyd's List supports The Mission to Seafarers

LONG-TIME shipping newspaper Lloyd's List visited The Mission to Seafarers central office this week to present the Secretary General with a significant donation. MORE

MtS group provides support to Chinese fishers and teenage seafarers

MtS Falmouth and MtS Plymouth worked hard over the weekend to assist the Athena's 111-strong crew, rescued from a traumatic fire aboard their factory fishing vessel... MORE

Falmouth Team welcome the rescued crew of the ATHENA

The Mission to Seafarers in Falmouth was today (Thursday October 28) the first welfare agency to welcome the crew of the ATHENA as the men were brought ashore following a fire onboard their ship which resulted in an emergency evacuation 230 miles off the Isles of Scilly on Wednesday. MORE

Angel Riders triumph on Isle of Wet!

OVER 100 people braved torrential rain, high speed winds and flash flooding to complete the inaugural Flying Angel Ride in aid of The Mission to Seafarers. MORE

Leading industry newspaper lends its support to MtS

The Mission to Seafarers is benefiting from an online partnership with Lloyd's List MORE

Flying the Flag.....

Congratulations to some of our wonderful Flag Day volunteers who’ve been out and about raising money for the Mission’s work for seafarers. MORE

2010 Christmas Catalogue

Have a look at the 2010 Christmas Catalogue from The Mission to Seafarers now! MORE

Annual Service

To celebrate World Maritime Day and the tenth anniversary of the society’s name change, The Mission to Seafarers will hold its Annual Service for friends and supporters at St Michael Paternoster Royal, Thursday, September 23 at 3pm, St Michael Paternoster Royal. MORE

Isle of Wight

Registration is still open for the Flying Angel Ride which will take place on the Isle of Wight on Sunday, October 3rd to raise vital funds for The Mission to Seafarers. MORE

‘Rectory Runners’ raise funds for The Mission

Congratulations to our ‘Rectory Runners’ London Marathon team Revd Chris Burke and his GP wife Helen who have successfully completed the 26.2-mile course in aid of The Mission to Seafarers. Church of the High Seas rector Chris Burke this week swapped his Sunday vestments for a running vest as he left his altar to compete in the London Marathon for the Mission to Seafarers. MORE

Running Revd gets on his marks for The Mission

AS the nights draw in and the temperature drops, all over the country the steady rhythm of runners pounding the footpaths of local highways and byways can be heard as men and women prepare for the London Marathon 2010. MORE

Carols ring out for The Mission to Seafarers

FRIENDS and supporters of The Mission to Seafarers packed into the church of St Michael Paternoster Royal in the City of London to celebrate the Christmas Story at the annual Carol Concert. MORE

Capacity Crowd Welcomes Ecumenical Ministry Team

A FULL crowd packed into the chapel of the Mill Dam Mission to Seafarers on Sunday, December 6, to witness the swearing-in of the new ecumenical ministry team which will operate in the Port of Tyne. MORE

Topaz Energy and Marine support the Flying Angel Support Vessel.

THE Mission to Seafarers in Dubai has received vital funding from Topaz Energy and Marine to secure the future of its support vessel, The Flying Angel. The company will use its considerable vessel management infrastructure to manage the entire vessel and will take onboard all of its running costs which last MORE

Serving seafarers wherever the need is greatest

The Revd Tom Heffer takes over as Secretary General of The Mission to Seafarers from the Revd Canon Bill Christianson today and began by unveiling a new programme of work to the society, aimed at enabling the international organisation to deliver services to seafarers where the need is greatest. Delivering MORE

AGM and Annual Service

FOCUSING on caring for seafarers in ports where the need is greatest was one of the key themes of the 2009 Annual Service and Annual General Meeting of The Mission to Seafarers held at the society’s home church of St Michael Paternoster Royal in London on June 24. The Mission’s MORE

The Revd Tom Heffer to become 15th Secretary General

THE Mission to Seafarers today announces that the Revd Tom Heffer, currently director of chaplaincy, The Mission to Seafarers, will succeed the Revd Canon Bill Christianson as the society’s Secretary General from July 1 2009. Speaking on his appointment, the Revd Heffer said: “It is a tremendous privilege to be asked MORE

Peninsula Petroleum supports The Mission to Seafarers

LEADING physical bunker and lubricant supplier Peninsula Petroleum donated £7,000 to international maritime charity The Mission to Seafarers at a presentation ceremony in St James’s, London. Speaking from Peninsula Petroleum’s head office, Managing Director John Bassadone said: “Peninsula Petroleum is a leading player in the marine fuels market, dealing with shipowners MORE

Christmas Joy at Mission Carol Concert

A PACKED congregation filled St Michael Paternoster Royal last Wednesday (December 10) to celebrate the Christmas story and raise funds for The Mission to Seafarers. In the presence of the society’s President, HRH The Princess Royal, supporters and friends gathered to sing familiar Christmas carols such as Once in Royal David’s MORE

The Mission to Seafarers launches Tour Pour La Mer ‘09

THE Mission to Seafarers has announced that its annual bike ride will return in 2009 with its biggest event to date at a reception held at Lloyd’s Register. Since its creation in 2006, Tour Pour La Mer has raised thousands of pounds for the Mission’s work with seafarers in over MORE

Movie script gets help from The Mission to Seafarers

A GRIPPING drama about the plight of stranded seafarers is being written for the big screen, thanks to help from The Mission to Seafarers. Stranded tells the story of a group of foreign seafarers stuck in the UK when their merchant ship, which flies a flag of convenience, fails a port MORE

Sea Tea Dance proves popular for MtS

OVER 120 people gathered at the exclusive Lansdowne Club in Mayfair last Friday (October 10) to trip the light fantastic and help the world’s merchant seafarers with a charity Sea Tea Dance in aid of The Mission to Seafarers. The Sea Tea Dance in London was the flagship event of a MORE

No Food. No Water. No Pay. Seafarers return home after 5-month ordeal

Mombasa, Kenya: THE last 10 crew members of a cruise liner stuck in Mombasa for five months have finally been repatriated after being helped by The Mission to Seafarers. The seafarers onboard the Royal Star were part of a 130-strong crew operating the 5,600-ton vessel which sailed around the Indian Ocean. MORE

Annual Service and AGM: celebrating another year of maritime ministry

ADAPTING to the challenge of change was one of the key themes of the 2008 Annual Service and Annual General Meeting of The Mission to Seafarers held at St Michael Paternoster Royal in London on June 26. The Mission’s president, HRH The Princess Royal, told a congregation of 300 members and MORE

MoU signing sees a new partnership to benefit seafarers

CARDIFF-based Graig Ship Management has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) engaging the international maritime welfare agency to provide assistance to the company’s seafarers during times of crisis. The MoU sets out the protocol to be followed by The Mission to Seafarers in providing MORE

Easter is made egg-stra special in Falmouth

SEAFARERS visiting the port of Falmouth in Cornwall this Easter had the occasion made egg-stra special thanks to The Mission to Seafarers and the Apostleship of the Sea. Foreign and UK seafarers visiting the docks each received a chocolate Easter egg to mark the occasion. For the second year running, MORE

Seafarers find hope in MtS after a nine-month ordeal

ELEVEN Ukrainian crewmembers onboard the bulker M/V Lady East are finding refuge in the chaplain of The Mission to Seafarers after being stuck in Richard’s Bay, South Africa for nine months. Originally, 22 men were onboard when the vessel arrived in May to load cargo. During a routine inspection, the MORE

MtS brings Christmas cheer to seafarers

It’s been another busy Christmas season for The Mission to Seafarers. In our stations all over the world, chaplains and volunteers lovingly handed out Christmas presents to the seafarers who were in port over Christmas. Many of the seafarers visited their nearest seafarers’ centre to telephone home and make contact MORE

The bells of Stepney ring in Christmas for The Mission to Seafarers

On a crisp winter’s evening, over 150 people gathered inside the warm and homely surroundings of St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, to celebrate the Christmas Story and raise funds for The Mission to Seafarers at the society’s annual carol concert. In the presence of the society’s President, HRH The MORE

TPLM ride is on course to raise over £100,000

THE shipping industry, friends and supporters got on their bikes Friday (September 28) to raise money for the international work of The Mission to Seafarers. On a dull but dry autumnal morning, nearly 200 riders gathered in Palmerston Park, Southampton and were greeted by the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Stephen MORE

Viking Islay crew helped by MTS

The Mission to Seafarers’ Immingham chaplain, the Revd Samuel Bisaso, is providing practical assistance to the crew of the gas rig standby vessel, the Viking Islay which lost three crewmembers during a tragic accident off the coast of East Yorkshire on Sunday, September 24. Three crewmembers were injured when they MORE

New vice chairman announced for MtS

RESPECTED shipping figure Captain John Hughes has been appointed the vice chairman of The Mission to Seafarers and will commence his duties immediately, it is announced today. Mr Hughes is widely known within the shipping industry and has served on the council of the charity since 2005. He is also MORE

Stricken crew helped by The Mission

The Mission to Seafarers has provided care and support to a crew of Polish seafarers who were plucked to safety after the MSV Jork sank in the North Sea on Sunday. The 2,000 tonne vessel, which had been carrying grain from Lubeck to New Holland in Hull, collided with an unmanned MORE

Refurbished centre opens in Hull

A refurbished seafarers’ centre has been reopened in the port of Hull from where The Mission to Seafarers, working with its ecumenical colleagues from other Christian maritime organisations, will be able to continue its vital work supporting the thousands of ships and seafarers who visit one of Britain’s busiest ports MORE

Robert Woods signs up for Tour Pour La Mer

Shipping veteran Robert Woods today signed up to help The Mission to Seafarers raise £500,000 for its vital maritime welfare work around the world. At the Mission’s headquarters in the City of London, Mr Woods committed himself to his second Tour Pour La Mer bike ride which this year is a MORE

Mission chaplain involved in dramatic rescue

The Mission to Seafarers has provided pastoral care to the crewmembers of the Eritrean-flagged M/V Denden which ran aground and later capsized off the coast of Thanveerbavi near Mangalore on Saturday. The general cargo ship (built in 1977 and weighing in at 6,977gt) ran aground off the coast after encountering MORE

Inspiration as MtS holds its AGM 2007

Inspiration and vision were the themes of The Mission to Seafarers’ Annual General Meeting held in London on Wednesday 27 June. In his address to the members of the Anglican society which has been caring for seafarers for over 150 years, the Revd Canon Bill Christianson, Secretary-General, said that the Mission MORE

As charity ride nears completion, cyclists ask for more help

Tanker veterans John Hughes and David Savage are well on the way to completing their 1,400-kilometre bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats in aid of The Mission to Seafarers and the Apostleship of the Sea. The pair reached the outskirts of Glasgow yesterday (Tuesday 19/06) and have another 600 MORE

And the award goes to...

The Revd Mary Davisson, director of the International Seafarers’ Centre, Baltimore, has received the Woman of the Year Award at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s Women in Maritime History event. Mary Davisson’s current role is a far cry from her former life as a professor of classics at the MORE

It’s going to be Tea-rrific!

Cups and saucers at the ready – the Great Sea Tea is back! Tea-lovers across the UK are being invited to have a cuppa on behalf of The Mission to Seafarers – and help the seafarers who bring the tea to us in the first place. The Great Sea Tea is MORE

On your bike for the great Mission fundraiser!

Free-wheeling fundraisers from around the world will be whizzing through the English countryside this year to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the Mission to Seafarers. Cycling enthusiasts will be joining forces with Mission supporters from across the UK for the second Tour Pour La Mer ride, which last year MORE

The Prince of Wales commissions the Flying Angel support boat

The first floating seafarers’ centre in the world was named Flying Angel by the Prince of Wales in a ceremony in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and will go into service in March. The purpose-built seafarers’ support boat takes its name from The Mission to Seafarers’ flying angel symbol. Its MORE

New drop-in centre for seafarers in Aqaba

A small seafarers’ centre provided by the Aqaba port authority and manned by The Mission to Seafarers has opened in the container port. The ACT Seafarer’s Internet Café is convenient for seafarers, being a two-minute bus ride from their ships. Facilities include two computers for free internet and email services, and MORE

Care for injured seafarer

A Filipino seafarer, who was hospitalised in Cornwall, UK, after being seriously hurt in a storm at sea, is being looked after by the Falmouth Mission to Seafarers while he recovers. Romulus was the bosun on the Norwegian tanker Maria Knutsen when it was hit by a violent storm off Cornwall. MORE

Aden Mission refuge for threatened Nigerian fishermen

Twenty-one Nigerian fishermen are sleeping on mattresses on the floor of Christ Church, Aden, three weeks after being given sanctuary there by The Mission to Seafarers chaplain Peter Crooks. They accepted the offer of refuge after telling Peter that they had been threatened with shooting if they did not MORE

Christmas cheer around the world

Christmas can be a difficult time for seafarers on board ship far from home but across the world The Mission to Seafarers is working hard to make it less lonely and more cheerful. Secretary general Canon Bill Christianson says that the Mission makes a special effort so that working seafarers can MORE

Chaplains fight for seafarers’ unpaid wages

Chaplains fight for seafarers’ unpaid wages A cargo ship en route from North Korea to Syria, reportedly carrying missiles for the Hezbollah organisation, was arrested in Limassol, Cyprus, and inspected by the local CID and an American CIA agent. “In reality,” said Marvin Bamforth, The Mission MORE

Princess Royal pays tribute to chaplains at Mission world conference

The Princess Royal paid tribute to the work of The Mission to Seafarers at its world conference in Derbyshire in October. She told the 180 delegates that if the Mission did not exist “someone would have to invent a similar organisation”. Chaplains, liaison bishops and committee chairman were MORE

Shipping minister addresses Mission seminar on seafarers’ welfare

What is “welfare”, how is it defined and who is responsible for it were questions raised at a seminar organised by The Mission to Seafarers and addressed by Shipping Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman. Delegates from the UK government, the shipping industry and voluntary organisations discussed seafarers’ welfare after Dr Ladyman MORE

New chairman for The Mission to Seafarers

Robert Woods, recently retired chief executive of P&O, is to be the next chairman of The Mission to Seafarers. He will succeed David Newbigging who retires at the end of this year. His appointment was announced by the Mission’s Council today (October 4). He has been a trustee of the Mission, MORE

Mission support boat takes shape in Dubai

The Angel, the seafarers’ support boat being built by The Mission to Seafarers in Dubai, is starting to take shape at Albwardy Marine shipyard. The order for the vessel was placed in April after a generous response to the initial appeal for funds for the 150th anniversary project. “We have already MORE

Suva centre reopens in new premises

The Mission to Seafarers centre in Suva, Fiji, has re-opened after an absence of three years. The new centre was dedicated by Archbishop Jabez Bryce in the presence of members of the port and shipping community. Located at shed 1 on the main Kings Wharf in the port, it offers MORE

Desert island nightmare for shipwrecked seafarer

The Mission to Seafarers’ Aden chaplain is “working hard” to end the nightmare ordeal of a seafarer marooned on a desert island for over six weeks. But the Revd Peter Crooks say it may be some time yet before the last survivor of a general cargo ship sinking is rescued. MORE

IMO secretary general visits Mission centres in Dar and Mombasa

Mr Efthimios Mitropoulos, secretary general of the United Nations shipping body, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), recently visited The Mission to Seafarers’ centres in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. He was in the region to commission a new Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre and made the visits to the MORE

Mission’s passion for justice still alive, says Archbishop of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, spoke of storms both literal and metaphorical in his sermon at the annual service of The Mission to Seafarers. Dr Williams said that people who live on land forgot all too easily, the real storms that seafarers faced – “a challenge that in MORE

Care for survivors after bulk carrier sank

After the bulk carrier Alexandros T sank some 300 miles of the east coast of South Africa with the loss of 26 lives, Mission to Seafarers chaplain Des Vaubell (left) and his ecumenical colleagues in Durban helped to care for the shocked survivors. Seven of the 33-man crew managed MORE

Shipping industry gets on its bike for the Mission

Over 250 people from the shipping industry got on their bikes in May to raise funds for The Mission to Seafarers over a two-day bike ride from Greenwich to Dover and around Le Touquet in France. Among those taking part were Robert Woods, the chief executive of P&O, shipowner Michael MORE

Full-time chaplain for Colombo

The Mission’s plan to re-establish a full-time ministry in Colombo, Sri Lanka, will reach fruition in July with the arrival in the port of Andrew Payne, currently the Mission’s chaplain in Felixstowe. His appointment follows a major refurbishment of the Colombo centre which was overseen by the Mission’s Portbury chaplain, MORE

Thanksgiving service for 150th anniversary

HRH The Princess Royal, president of The Mission to Seafarers, attended a thanksgiving service in Westminster Abbey on March 28 to mark the society’s 150th anniversary this year. Members of the Council of The Mission to Seafarers, chaplains and staff were joined at the service by hundreds of supporters MORE

The Mission to Seafarers on call for crew of detained vessel

Seafarers stuck at sea for eight weeks on a “dangerously unsafe” cargo ship were supplied with warm duvets, woolly hats and food by The Mission to Seafarers which was concerned for their welfare. The 20 crew of the MV Saruna, 18 Romanians, a Syrian and the Russian captain, had been MORE

New seafarers’ centre in Marsden Point

The Mission to Seafarers has opened a new seafarers’ centre in Marsden Point, New Zealand, the site of its old building having been reclaimed by the port for development. It has been built with the help of a £150,000 grant from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Seafarers’ Trust. Other MORE

Stranded Audrey crew goes home

The Audrey is a name that will haunt the lives of four Filipino seafarers who spent all of 2005 imprisoned on board. Their ship was abandoned by the owner and the crew were left to endure appalling sanitary and living conditions, scorching heat, and shortages of food and fuel. Seafarers MORE

MISSION SUPPORTS FOUR STRANDED SEAFARERS

Four Filipino seafarers marooned in appalling conditions on a tugboat off the coast of Bahrain since March can telephone their families thanks to the Bahrain International Seafarers’ Society. In scorching temperatures, with no air conditioning and food, water and fuel running low, the four were sleeping in makeshift beds on MORE

Covenant marks new ecumenical endeavour for seafarers

The Mission to Seafarers and its kindred societies, the Apostleship of the Sea (Roman Catholic) the British & International Sailors’ Society (interdenominational) have signed an agreement to work more closely together for the benefit of seafarers. The Christian Ecumenical Covenant for Maritime Ministry in the UK and Eire was MORE

Counselling and support for tsunami survivors

Most of The Mission to Seafarers’ involvement in caring for survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami has been in providing counselling and support, said ministry secretary Tom Heffer, who has just returned from the region. “There has been a huge amount of food aid and there are projects under way MORE

Valium seafarer finally goes home.

The Croatian ship’s officer jailed in the United Arab Emirates for having Valium sleeping pills is finally free to go home after a four-month ordeal. Denio Ruskovic, third officer on the V Ships MV Marine Pacific, was arrested in January as he signed-off in Fujairah and accused of drug smuggling. MORE

Centres now offering crews 24-hour telephone access

Today, when seafarers arrive in some ports, they might only stay for a few hours and it could be at any time of the day or night. The challenge for The Mission to Seafarers is how to meet the practical needs of crews on a 24-hour basis. As the provision MORE

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