Shipping Lines And Freight Agencies Asked To Aid Maritime Charity

UK - Seafarers Awareness Week will take place from Monday the 7th to the 13th June this year and Seafarers UK, the country’s leading charity for the maritime community, is asking businesses to join container and bulk carrier Maersk Line, in celebrating the huge role played by seafarers in our lives and the economy, by getting involved.

Seafarers UK point out that with 95% of UK trade arriving by sea we rely on our seafarers. Without them our fuel supplies would run dry in weeks and our supermarket shelves would stand empty. The UK’s maritime services sector has a turn over of £25bn and employs 500,000 people - seafarers are a vital part of this, yet they have become an invisible part of our society. Seafarers UK, supports much needed welfare services for seafarers from the Merchant Navy, Royal Navy and Royal Marines and the fishing fleets.The business community’s support is crucial to the charity’s continued work throughout the UK and Commonwealth.

Maersk Line is supporting Seafarers Awareness Week by taking part in Nautical Friday on June 11. Employees from offices around the UK are dressing in a nautical style to help raise money for seafarers and their families.

Annemette Jepsen, Managing Director, said: “Maersk Line is proud to be supporting Seafarers Awareness Week and using the opportunity to recognise the efforts of our seafarers and the huge contribution they make to our society. As a company which employs 2,000 seafarers in the UK, Maersk is delighted to be involved in helping seafarers and their families overcome the serious challenges they may face. It is also very important to us to be contributing to Seafarers UK’s work during 2010 – the international Year of the Seafarer.”

Commodore Barry Bryant, Director General of Seafarers UK, said: “As experts in maritime welfare Seafarers UK understands how best to help seafarers across the whole spectrum of need. We are thrilled that Maersk Line is joining us in giving seafarers a voice during Seafarers Awareness Week and their partnership is essential to our work across the UK and in the Commonwealth.”

Employees can also take part in the Seafarers UK photo competition by entering photos of themselves celebrating Seafarers Awareness Week by linking HERE or by emailing contact@seafarers-uk.org for more details.

Artists Max Lowry & Joe Hill have teamed up with Seafarers UK to create a fun and interactive piece of 3D art which will highlight the vital and often hidden role played by seafarers. People can visit and take part in the photo competition at the following three London locations:

• Paternoster Square, near St Pauls Cathedral, Tuesday 8th June, (from 7.30am to 6pm)

• Exchange Square, near Liverpool Street station, Wednesday 9th June (from 7.30am to 6pm)

• Carnaby Street, near Oxford Street station, Thursday 10th June (from 12 midday to 6pm)