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Shipping unites to create Covid emergency relief fund for seafarers

17 May, 2021

Seafarers International Relief Fund to aid India’s seafarers

Sailors’ Society has joined with other leading seafarer welfare charities and shipping industry players to launch an emergency relief fund to support seafarers and their families devastated by Covid-19.

The Seafarers International Relief Fund (SIRF) will initially focus on India, where the Covid-19 crisis has intensified in recent weeks, but will respond to the needs of seafarers wherever they are in the world, as and when new outbreaks develop.

The emergency fund is being coordinated by The Seafarers’ Charity, working in collaboration with the International Chamber of Shipping, Sailors’ Society, the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA), International Seafarers’ Welfare & Assistance Network (ISWAN), Stella Maris and The Mission to Seafarers.

Sara Baade, Sailors’ Society’s CEO said: “With the desperate Covid-19 crisis in India and current crew change restrictions, seafarers and their families are in vital need of our help.

“Together with our Seafarers International Relief Fund partners, we're calling on the industry to help support seafarers and their families through this hardest of times. We're pleased to be collaborating with The Seafarers’ Charity, the International Chamber of Shipping and our fellow maritime charities, so that we can offer our collective help.”

Funds raised will be distributed to the supporting charities and administered at no cost by The Seafarers’ Charity (formerly Seafarers UK).

All donors will receive a copy of the impact report produced at the end of the year to show where the funds have been spent.

To find out more and to make a donation to the fund, please click the following link: https://theseafarerscharity.enthuse.com/cf/seafarers-international-relief-fund

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