Following the COVID-19 situation and the negative impacts upon merchant seafarers, fishers and their families, the London-based charity Seafarers UK decided to create a new “Seafarers UK COVID-19 Emergency Fund” of £2 million in order to support crewmembers during this unprecedented crisis.
Specifically the new fund is intended for distribution in 2020-2021, with 75% allocated to the international merchant seafaring community and 25% to UK coastal fishing fleets.
As Seafarers UK reported, is already collaborating with frontline service delivery organisations around the UK and with those acting globally to meet the urgent welfare needs.
The trustees of Seafarers UK are releasing £2 million of new funds to help seafarers and fishers recover from the widespread impact on their wellbeing and livelihoods as a result of the coronavirus. We will work with our charity partners to provide both hardship funding and innovative new projects to support our seafarers through and beyond the current crisis. Our long history of helping those who work at sea enables us to target effective and meaningful support to where it is most needed.
…as Seafarers UK chairman Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson CB CVO BA noted.
For the records, the grants from Seafarers UK are offered to charities and other organisations providing frontline and support services to merchant seafarers, UK fishers and their families.
In light of the seafarers’ support, IMO understands the unique problems they face during the COVID-19pandemic and has been working tirelessly at all levels to find solutions for them.
