Sailors’ Society

Marking 10 years of our Crisis Response Network

We are marking 10 years of our Crisis Response Network – our free support and care to seafarers, their families and shipping companies following critical incidents.

From piracy and imprisonment to shipwrecks and suicides our global team of crisis responders have been there, able to provide the immediate and long-term support that is needed to get through the trauma of a crisis at sea.

These situations are frightening and overwhelming for those caught up in them and for those awaiting news on shore, but thanks to our Crisis Response Network, they have not had to face this alone.

For 10 years we have been by their side, visiting and comforting them, supporting their families and liaising with companies, lawyers, governments and other agencies.

And we continue to be there, across the globe and around the clock – whenever and wherever we are needed. We are always just a call away.

Number of seafarers we supported through our Crisis Response Network last year

Here are just some of the seafarers and families we have helped over the past 10 years

Imprisonment

The ship Seaman Guard, engaged in an anti-piracy operation, was running low on fuel. It stopped in Indian waters to refuel, unaware that the fuel was stolen.

The crew was arrested and the 35 men were found guilty of weapons charges and given a five-year prison sentence.  Sailors’ Society’s CRN team was on hand to offer support on a daily basis.

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Piracy

In October 2016, the survivors of the Taiwan-owned fishing vessel, Naham 3, were finally released after being held for almost five years by Somali pirates. Sailors’ Society’s CRN team was on hand to help.

Some 28 of the crew had been taken hostage. The pirates killed the Captain.

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Bereavement trauma

In July 2017, the fishing vessel, the Maredon, on her maiden voyage, capsized off the Eastern Cape of Africa. The 16-man crew, trapped under their upturned boat, were terrified.

Our CRN team stepped in to give trauma and grief counselling to the survivors and families of all the crew members.

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“I will never forget Sailors’ Society or the Crisis Team, and I will always stay in touch because of what they did for us.” 

“The crew could barely perform their duties on board – they were crying, did not eat well, slept together in the corridors out of fear, suffered panic attacks, woke up at any noise and had constant nightmares.”

“It can take considerable time and support to recover from an ordeal like this.  Now our work starts. We will help them rebuild their lives.”

Shipwreck

In February 2022, the crew Tresta Star was bunkering (taking on diesel fuel) in mid Indian Ocean when Cyclone Batsirai hit.

SOS flares were fired off and while they waited to be rescued in the dark amid a rising storm surge, Sailors’ Society’s CRN was called.

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False imprisonment

The CRN team were contacted in August 2022. A crew of 16 Indians, eight Sri Lankans, one Polish and one Filipino national had been detained by Nigerian authorities, accused of attempted oil theft and faking a piracy attack. 

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“I was trapped under the capsized boat for seven hours. I could not move my legs.”

“Thank you Sailors’ Society, for everything!”

“It was so bad and so dark, we really thought we were going to die.” 

“Sailors’ Society helped me get through that terrible ordeal. And were there when the nightmares came afterwards.”

“We ate mice and rats to survive. There was no hope.” 

“I tell them not to lose hope, Sailors’ Society is here for them and their families.” 

“The pirates were shouting “Where’s the Captain?” and shooting the floor. They did not know that he was already dead in the engine room. I felt desperate and terrified.”

War

In July 2024, the crew of the oil tanker huddled together in corridors.  Too terrified to sleep in their cabins after coming under attack from Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

Panic-stricken and traumatised, one crew member reached out to Sailors’ Society’s CRN team.

READ MORE +

“Some families are still waiting in the hope that their loved ones could miraculously be found.”

“I am so happy that Sailors’ Society was here to support my family.”

“The imprisoned men are distraught and are often in tears. The families are too poor to travel to see them- they feel abandoned. “

“Sailors’ Society visited me in the prison hospital every week and it helped me to survive.” 

“The imprisoned men are distraught and are often in tears. The families are too poor to travel to see them- they feel abandoned.“

When Xen, a Chinese seafarer, tried several times to end his life, his crewmates called our helpline.  

Six weeks from port, our international team were able to be on the phone with him 24/7 throughout the rest of the voyage and arranged for medical help to be waiting for him portside when they eventually docked.  

He is back home with his family, living a healthy and happy life.  

We were there for Pila’s widowed mother when he died in a ship fire.  

She was left facing a repatriation fee of $500 to bring his body home. She also had to pay back the loan that secured the contract; his first job.  

We brought Pila’s body home for her.  

Sometimes it is a seafarer’s crewmates that need the support of the CRN team. 

In June 2023, when a ship’s Captain was informed that a crew member’s wife had taken her own life and that of their five-year-old son, our CRN team was on hand to give the Captain advice on how to handle this difficult situation, not just with the seafarer, but with other crew members.  

We were on call to help until the ship came into port and the seafarer was repatriated home.   

Some of the names in the case studies we have used are changed to protect people’s identities.

Thanks to those who recognise the value of our CRN and have generously made a donation towards this work in our 10th anniversary year

Donate NOW

How much would you like to give?

£20

could help pay our helpline costs for a morning

£50

could go towards counselling a seafarer in crisis

£100

could provide financial support for a seafarer’s urgent medical care or help with repatriation

Donate

“I was trapped under the capsized boat for seven hours. I could not move my legs.”

“I tell them not to lose hope, Sailors’ Society is here for them and their families.” 

“It was so bad and so dark, we really thought we were going to die.”  

“Thank you, Sailors’ Society for everything!”

“We ate mice and wild cats to survive. There was no hope.” 

“Sailors’ Society helped me get through that terrible ordeal. And where there when the nightmares came afterwards”

 “The pirates were shouting “Where’s the captain?” and shooting the floor. They did not know that he was already dead in the engine room. I felt desperate and terrified.” 

 “Sailors’ Society visited me in the prison hospital every week and it helped me to survive.” 

“The imprisoned men are distraught and are often in tears. The families are too poor to travel to see them- they feel abandoned.“

“Am so very grateful Sailors’ Society was there, listening. After our chats. I could sleep.”

“The crew could barely perform their duties on board – they were crying, did not eat well, slept together in the corridors out of fear, suffered panic attacks, woke up at any noise and had constant nightmares.”

“I will never forget Sailors’ Society or the Crisis Team, and I will always stay in touch because of what they did for us.” 

“Some families are still waiting in the hope that their loved ones could miraculously be found.”

“It can take considerable time and support to recover from an ordeal like this.  Now our work starts. We will help them rebuild their lives.” 

Marking 10 years of our Crisis Response Network

Here are just some of the seafarers and families we have helped over the past 10 years

Imprisonment

Piracy

Bereavement trauma

“I will never forget Sailors’ Society or the Crisis Team, and I will always stay in touch because of what they did for us.”

“The crew could barely perform their duties on board – they were crying, did not eat well, slept together in the corridors out of fear, suffered panic attacks, woke up at any noise and had constant nightmares.”

“It can take considerable time and support to recover from an ordeal like this. Now our work starts. We will help them rebuild their lives.”

Shipwreck

False imprisonment

“I was trapped under the capsized boat for seven hours. I could not move my legs.”

“Thank you Sailors’ Society, for everything!”

“It was so bad and so dark, we really thought we were going to die.”

“Sailors’ Society helped me get through that terrible ordeal. And were there when the nightmares came afterwards.”

“We ate mice and rats to survive. There was no hope.”

“I tell them not to lose hope, Sailors’ Society is here for them and their families.”

“The pirates were shouting “Where’s the Captain?” and shooting the floor. They did not know that he was already dead in the engine room. I felt desperate and terrified.”

War

“Some families are still waiting in the hope that their loved ones could miraculously be found.”

“I am so happy that Sailors’ Society was here to support my family.”

“The imprisoned men are distraught and are often in tears. The families are too poor to travel to see them- they feel abandoned. “

“Sailors’ Society visited me in the prison hospital every week and it helped me to survive.”

“The imprisoned men are distraught and are often in tears. The families are too poor to travel to see them- they feel abandoned.“

Thanks to those who recognise the value of our CRN and have generously made a donation towards this work in our 10th anniversary year

Donate NOW

“I was trapped under the capsized boat for seven hours. I could not move my legs.”

“It was so bad and so dark, we really thought we were going to die.”

“We ate mice and wild cats to survive. There was no hope.”

“The pirates were shouting “Where’s the captain?” and shooting the floor. They did not know that he was already dead in the engine room. I felt desperate and terrified.”

“The imprisoned men are distraught and are often in tears. The families are too poor to travel to see them- they feel abandoned.“

“The crew could barely perform their duties on board – they were crying, did not eat well, slept together in the corridors out of fear, suffered panic attacks, woke up at any noise and had constant nightmares.”

“Some families are still waiting in the hope that their loved ones could miraculously be found.”

“I will never forget Sailors’ Society or the Crisis Team, and I will always stay in touch because of what they did for us.” 

“It can take considerable time and support to recover from an ordeal like this.  Now our work starts. We will help them rebuild their lives.”

“It was so bad and so dark, we really thought we were going to die.” 

“We ate mice and rats to survive. There was no hope.” 

“I tell them not to lose hope, Sailors’ Society is here for them and their families.” 

“Sailors’ Society visited me in the prison hospital every week and it helped me to survive.” 

“It was so bad and so dark, we really thought we were going to die.”  

“We ate mice and wild cats to survive. There was no hope.” 

 “The pirates were shouting “Where’s the captain?” and shooting the floor. They did not know that he was already dead in the engine room. I felt desperate and terrified.” 