Working with corporate partners across the industry to improve lives of Seafarers

The Mission has a high level of expertise and a proven track record of working with corporate partners across the industry.

Represented in 200 ports across 50 countries, we are more likely than any other organization to reach your seafarers at some point in their lives. Our network of Port Chaplains, Seafarers Centre staff, and Family Support Service personnel are well trained and on call 24/7. This service is free on delivery.

We invite you to play your part and to come on a journey with us and find out more about how your company can help seafarers, whilst at the same time increasing your business opportunities.

Global vision

During the pandemic, we launched our Chat to a Chaplain digital service, enabling seafarers to access support, advice, and simple friendship online 24 hours a day. This was an important development and has influenced the direction of our new Global Strategy which commits us to a hybrid approach, building digital platforms to support effective outreach to crew and their families, alongside our physical face-to-face presence which remains vital.

Our Seafarers Happiness Index has become an important benchmark for the industry but relies on seafarer Internet to take part, and not all seafarers have access to WiFi. Our WeCare educational and mental health support programmes have now been brought entirely online and we will be launching our new Happy at Sea App in 2022.

In addition, we plan to establish new Key Welfare Hubs in strategic locations where large numbers of seafarers pass through, offering a more comprehensive and effective service.

Jan Webber BEM

Director of development

“The Mission to Seafarers has a long and proud history of breaking new ground in maritime welfare, while remaining faithful to its core purposes and values. You have great traditions on which to build, and some well thought out plans for the next five years. You also enjoy valuable partnerships, and a high degree of respect from the shipping industry within which you have played a crucial part for 166 years. The great success in fundraising over the past two years is evidence of the strong bond which exists between you and the industry, and I want to pay tribute to all involved in these efforts.”

HRH The Princess Royal

President of The Mission to Seafarers

How we help seafarers?

The Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest international maritime charities in the world. Our port-based staff meet seafarers when they come into port and provide them with practical, emotional and (when asked) spiritual support. We support seafarers regardless of nationality, faith, or no faith.

Practically, we will transport seafarers to wherever they want to go. This may be the pharmacy, leisure facilities, shopping mall or to transfer money. The most regular request by far is to reach a WiFi signal. It is little appreciated that not all seafarers have access to WiFi on board and for those that do, the cost can be high. We provide SIM cards and MiFi units to make life easier for them.

Emotionally, we are on hand to celebrate the good times, like a birth of a child, and the sad times when a seafarer loses a loved one. Throughout the pandemic, providing mental health support to seafarers has been important to give them the tools they need to cope.

Spiritually, our Port Chaplains will offer prayer and blessings to those unable to reach places of worship.

Abandonment

In addition to our port-based welfare work, we assist seafarers who have been abandoned by their operators. Each year, around 70 ships are abandoned by unscrupulous shipowners who have encountered financial or legal problems. They literally vanish, leaving crews unpaid and unable to get home.

We work with the authorities to recover their wages and resolve the situation. A crucial part of our work involves liaising with and supporting seafarers’ families who are often besides themselves with worry and facing financial ruin.