Helping hand: MtS offers assistance to Concordia crew

As unconfirmed reports come in of a sixth body being recovered from the capsized cruise ship, the Mission to Seafarers has been investigating ways in which its global network might provide help to members of the crew.

Of some 4000 people on board when the vessel keeled over, around a thousand were seafarers and catering and hospitality staff. Many of these are workers drawn from large labour maritime supply countries like India and the Philippines, and, once repatriated, may find it difficult to obtain post-trauma support in their home countries in the developing world. 

The Mission, which is now the globe's largest port-based provider of welfare services, is on call for seafarers in 250 ports internationally.