Maritime Organisations Spread Christmas Cheer to Seafarers

Marine mutual liability insurer North P&I Club and seafarers’ charity Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) have teamed-up to spread some Christmas cheer to seafarers.
 
On Tuesday, December 5, North donated 59 Christmas shoeboxes which will be distributed to seafarers by AoS port chaplains and ship visitors over the festive period.
 
The parcels were handed over by Belinda Ward North Deputy Director (Claims) to Paul Atkinson, AoS port chaplain for Blyth & Tyne.
 
Around 90% of world trade is transported by ship and seafarers may spend up to a year at a time away from home, separated from their family and loved ones.
 
“The isolation and loneliness can be felt more acutely at Christmas time and here at North, we thought it would be a good idea to provide seafarers visiting local ports with a shoebox full of gifts at Christmas time as it not only spreads some cheer but they also provide practical items that are hard to do without while at sea,” said John Webb, Senior Executive (Claims) of North P&I Club.
 
He added, “We were overwhelmed by the generosity, not only from colleagues at North, but from the wider community, through donations from family and friends of colleagues and from local maritime lawyers Campbell Johnston Clark. We were delighted to provide Apostleship of the Sea with 59 shoeboxes full of gifts for seafarers visiting north east ports over the Christmas period.”
 
Paul said distributing Christmas presents to seafarers was one way of letting them know that they are not forgotten during this special time.
 
“We often forget that it is seafarers who bring us most of our Christmas presents in the first place, so this is a wonderful thank you gesture to let them know they are appreciated,” he said.

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Photos can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/apostleshipofthesea/albums/72157688096977132

Further information for Editors

The Apostleship of the Sea, AoS, is a registered charity and agency of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of England & Wales and Scotland. It is wholly reliant on voluntary donations and legacies to continue its work.

90% of world trade is transported by ship, and more than 100,000 ships visit British ports each year. However the life of a modern seafarer can be dangerous and lonely. They may spend up to a year at a time away from home, separated from their family and loved ones, often working in harsh conditions.

AoS chaplains and ship visitors welcome seafarers to our shores – regardless of their colour, race or creed and provide them with pastoral and practical assistance. They recognise them as brothers with an intrinsic human dignity which can be overlooked in the modern globalised maritime industry.

For more information contact John Green, Director of Development on 020 7901 1931 or 07505653801 or email johngreen@apostleshipofthesea.org.uk

www.apostleshipofthesea.org.uk