Why Support Seafarers

Thank you for your interest in supporting the world’s heroic men and women. We are pleased for the opportunity to share with you what we do to help this invisible and vulnerable group of people.

Seafarers – our invisible army – our heroes.

90% of the world’s food, fuel, raw materials and manufactured goods are transported by sea. Most of the things we use every day arrive by ships, operated and maintained by skilled seafarers. Without seafarers, global trade would come to a standstill and it is because of these skilled brave men and women that businesses around the world thrive and people are able to buy the things they need as well as those special treats and presents.

Why empathise with seafarers

The events of the pandemic can help us empathise with seafarers who often experience isolation, have limited contact with others, are constrained by the nature of the confined spaces in which they live and work, and lack access to the normal family and friend support networks. They regularly miss their children’s birthday celebrations, weddings, funerals and other important family events. Many of us are now experiencing very similar circumstances, helping us to stand in the shoes of these #key workers so we can begin to understand just a little of the impact over a period of time.

How you can help

With your support, our mission is to help these men and women who sacrifice months at sea away from their families. The Mission works in over 200 ports providing support for seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs.

• Through a global network of chaplains, staff and volunteers the Mission offers practical, emotional and spiritual care to seafarers through ship-visits, drop-in centres and a range of welfare and emergency interventions.
• Our Flying Angel Centres provide a ‘home away from home’ for seafarers who may have been at sea for more than a year, some nearer two years. Here they can enjoy time away from their ship and use internet and phone facilities to get in touch with loved ones after months away.
• In an emergency, The Mission to Seafarers is often the only help on offer. No matter what problem seafarers face, be it injury, exhaustion, non-payment of wages or personal difficulties, they know they can turn to the local Mission for help, advice and care.
• The pandemic has left in the region of 300,000 men and women seafarers stranded, struggling to get home and the same number unable to join their ships.

Seafarers perform one of the toughest and most dangerous jobs in the world, working on ships through some of the roughest seas, enduring hardships, making many sacrifices to make sure the world and its people can gain access to basic necessities.

“Raising funds is extremely challenging and we are deeply grateful to you for your interest in our work. Seafarers need our help. Life at sea is often dangerous and demanding. Our service to them meets very real needs and it changes thousands of lives for the better.”

– Andrew Wright, Secretary General, The Mission to Seafarers

This is what one seafarer told us:

“There is no tomorrow and without tomorrow there is no hope”