Charity needs $750 a day to provide invaluable service to seafarers off the UAE coast
A new appeal is being made to cover the $750 a day running costs of the Flying Angel, a charity vessel bringing home comforts to thousands of lonely seafarers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
The appeal was launched by the Mission to Seafarers in Dubai, part of the international organisation that cares for seafarers regardless of race or religion in over 300 ports around the world, at a reception for the UAE business world yesterday evening (16 November 2008) generously sponsored by the Capital Club.
The aim is to raise funds to cover the running costs of the locally-built Flying Angel. More than US$1 million was raised in 2006/7 to build the vessel and this year the charity is looking to raise more to contribute to its invaluable work.
The reception also saw the launch of a DVD showing a typical day in the life of the Flying Angel which was filmed and produced by the Media Corporation of Macmillan Adam at Dubai Media City, who gave their time and expertise free for the charity.
The Flying Angel was launched in February 2007 and provides seafarers based off the East Coast of the UAE with Internet access, a library with educational and fictional DVDs and books, a medical clinic with a paramedic, access to telecommunications, and pastoral and spiritual support with a dedicated welfare officer.
On average 75 seafarers per day visit the Flying Angel at sea, which means in a month she helps over 2000 seafarers who would not otherwise have the opportunity to come ashore and call home. The service operates every day in the hours of daylight sailing out to the ships using the East Coast anchorage. Running costs average $750 a day.
Reverend Stephen Miller, of The Mission to Seafarers in Dubai, said: "One of the things that has struck me while operating the Flying Angel is the amount of loneliness and isolation that seafarers face.
"To illustrate the scale of the problem, the East Coast is the second largest bunker anchorage in the world with 100 to 150 ships anchored off shore at any given time. As many as 3,000 seafarers can be unable to communicate with family and friends at home for weeks, sometimes months, leading to isolation and loneliness, which the Angel is designed to alleviate."
John Hawkins, the UK Consul General from 2004 to 2008, said "over 99% of everything we buy and everything we use arrives here by sea and if it wasn't for the seafarers and the commitment that they make we wouldn't have the food we eat or the cars we drive."
Following the success of the Angel, there are hopes of expansion in the future. "The Flying Angel is the first of its kind but hopefully the idea will catch on and we will be able to build more vessels to help seafarers at sea," Miller said.
The Angel Appeal has received substantial pledges of support from the Fujairah National Group, Lamnalco of Sharjah, the National Bank of Dubai, the Fairmont Dubai, Al Maktoum Foundation, Inchcape Shipping Services, Albwardy Marine Engineering, Caterpillar, International Marine Coatings and Dutco as well as many smaller private donations.
The Flying Angel was this year's global winner of Seatrade's Investment in People award, given by the maritime industry in recognition of outstanding achievement.
Since 2006 the Angel Appeal has been supported by a cross section of both local and expatriate society. To join in this shared vision and become a friend of the Angel, contact Alexi or Alex of the Angel Appeal team on mts150@eim.ae
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For media information, please contact:
Nathalie Viselé
Director
Shamal Marketing Communications
PO Box 502701
Office 106 I Al Sufouh Tower
Dubai Media City
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Office: +971 4 3652711
Direct : +971 4 3652712
Mobile : +971 50 4576525
Fax:+971 4 4278703
E-mail: nathalie@smc-pr.com
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© Press Release 2008
