Opportunity ti remember seafarers’ sacrifices
UKShipping Minister Stephen Hammond announced that merchant seafarers who have shown distinguished service may be honoured with a new Merchant Navy Medal.
Merchant Navy Day provides an opportunity to remember the sacrifices of the seafarers of the past, to show appreciation for British shipping and to look ahead to the future of our maritime nation.
Shipping Minister Stephen Hammond said:
“Our maritime success could not be achieved without the people who work in the shipping industry, and I am very pleased that there will now be an Honour specifically for merchant seafarers. On Merchant Navy Day, we remember the merchant seafarers of the past, more than 20,000 of whom lost their lives in the Second World War alone. We should never forget their efforts and the sacrifices they made, bravely crewing the ships which carried the goods which provided Britain with the means to survive.”
“Shipping is every bit as important to the UK today – with the vast majority of goods arriving in our country by sea. The UK maritime sector enjoys an excellent reputation, which I hope will help it go from strength to strength.”
The new Merchant Navy Medal will be awarded for meritorious service by merchant seafarers.
Captain Matthew Easton, Chairman of the Merchant Navy Medal Committee, said:
“We are hugely honoured that Her Majesty the Queen has granted the Merchant Navy its own national award and in doing so reinforcing the importance of the Merchant Navy in the lives of all us, honouring the nations debt to the Merchant Navy in war and peace, historically, today and into the future.”
The UK registered trading fleet increased from 5.03 to 16.64 million gross tons between 2002 and 2012, an increase of over 230% over the decade. The UK has the thirteenth largest merchant fleet in the world and the fifth largest in Europe.The increase in tonnage on the UK shipping register has been achieved without compromising quality standards. |