Sailors’ Society returns from fact finding and fundraising trip with target of US$1.35m

International Seafarers’ charity looks to extend work in India

International seafarers’ charity the Sailors’ Society is to launch a campaign to raise US$1.35million to improve facilities for seafarers visiting ports in India. Sailors’ Society representatives Jan Webber and Helen Alexander recently returned from a fact-finding and fundraising visit to Mumbai, where they met with leading shipping personnel, trustees of charitable organisations and captains of industry, including representatives from GAC, Inchcape Shipping and Tata, owners of well-known companies Tetley and Land Rover. The ladies were guests of Ince & Co, who funded the trip, and at whose conference Jan and Helen addressed a prestigious audience in excess of 100 delegates. Ince & Co. also made a presentation of £1,000 towards the work of the Sailors’ Society, illustrating their commitment to the partnership. Jan and Helen attended a number of receptions, conferences and meetings, where the Sailors’ Society’s work was discussed in detail and pledges of support were made towards the US$1.35M, needed for the Sailors’ Society India Collaboration programme – a campaign to improve seafarers’ facilities in the region and for the charity’s ongoing worldwide funding needs. There is more demand for such services as a result of Asia’s strong and continuing growth. Director of Fundraising and Marketing for the Sailors’ Society Jan Webber explained: “We need funds for our continuing work internationally, as well as the Collaboration Programme in India, which is integral to our development plans. We understand and recognise that we cannot undertake this expansion without the support and commitment of interested parties in India, in particular those associated with, or benefiting from, the shipping industry. “We are already working closely with the International Transport Federation Seafarers’ Trust and the International Committee for Seafarers’ Welfare South Asia, which wholly endorse the need for these services.” Jan Webber added: “Sailors’ Society already has a presence in Kakinada and Visahapatnam, with two Port Chaplains, Reuben and Ravi Paul, based full-time in the region. Our aim is to improve services for seafarers in the ports of Kandla, Jawaharlal Nehru (JNPT), Murmugoa, Mangalore, Cochin, Krishnapatnam, Gangarvaram, Paradip and Haldia. Each of these ports serves well over 1,000 shipping movements per annum, with few if any services for seafarers.” She added: “Ideally we want Port Chaplains and ship visitors in all of these Ports – a friendly face for seafarers who spend many months at sea with little, if any contact, with the ‘outside’ world, often only seeing the inside of the port. We want to use the money from our campaign to provide minibuses to transport these seafarers around the ports and local areas. We would also like to be able to provide facilities such as telephone and internet access, so seafarers can contact families and loved ones.” The week long trip provided plenty of opportunities for Jan Webber and Helen Alexander to speak about the need to help seafarers and also about the Sailors’ Society’s work around the world, where other collaborations with local shipping companies and businesses have been successful for over 190 years. Ends Words: 510