World's first seafarers' support boat receives royal seal of approval as 'Angel Appeal' donations reach US$ 1 million
The world's first seafarers support boat was commissioned "Flying Angel" by HRH The Prince of Wales in a ceremony on Dubai creek, earlier today (Wednesday February 28). The purpose-built seafarers' support boat takes its name from the flying angel symbol of The Mission to Seafarers, the international society that has cared for seafarers regardless of race or religion in over 300 ports around the world for over 150 years.
"Flying Angel" is customised on the original design of a pilot boat and was built by Albwardy Marine in Dubai. The funding has come through the US$ 1 million 'Angel Appeal' organised by The Mission to Seafarers in Dubai to coincide with the society's anniversary celebrations.
"The appeal caught the imagination of the UAE public as well as government and local and international corporations, irrespective of their religious denomination and their generosity has been overwhelming" said Dubai Mission chaplain Stephen Miller.
"Flying Angel" will serve seafarers whose ships use the east coast anchorage of the UAE. It is the second largest bunkering anchorage in the world, with 100 to 150 ships there at any one time. At present, as many as 2,000 seafarers who crew these ships are unable to go ashore to contact their families, sometimes for many months.
When the boat goes into service at the end of March, seafarers will be able to relax and unwind away from their ships. Facilities include an internet caf for surfing the web and sending emails, telephones costing only US$2.40 for a 40-minute call home, a book and DVD library and refreshments. A full-time welfare officer will provide spiritual and pastoral care and legal assistance.
Stephen Miller said the initiative for the "Flying Angel" project came after he met a stranded seafarer at the anchorage, unable to step ashore. "When I went on board, the seafarer used my mobile phone and heard he was the proud father of a son born four months earlier. It was his desperate isolation that made me think that we should take the Mission centre to them."
The support boat is a 21st century version of the "Eirene", the cutter built by the Reverend John Ashley, the man whose ministry to sailors on ships in Bristol, England in the early 19th century inspired the foundation of the Mission. There was a chapel below deck for sailors to take part in church services.
Since those Victorian days, Mission chaplains have used dinghies and launches to visit ships but, said Stephen Miller, 'Flying Angel' is the world's first vessel purpose-built to carry centre-based facilities to the seafarers.
For anyone wishing to support The Angel Appeal or make a donation, please contact Stephen Miller on 04 344 1823 or email the Appeal Team on mts150@eim.ae or flyangel@eim.ae log on to http://www.angelappeal.com/
The Angel Appeal Committee members include:
David May, Chair of The Angel Appeal
Doug Dowie, CEO, National Bank of Dubai
Terence Holland, Director, Rolls Royce, Middle East
Kent Cooper, Regional Director of Sales & Marketing, The Fairmont Dubai
Philip d'Abo, Albawardy Investments
James Berry, James Berry & Associates
Colin Leitch, CEO, Al Futtaim Motors
Rev. Steven Miller, Mission to Seafarers, Dubai
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About the Mission to Seafarers:
The Mission to Seafarers (formerly The Missions to Seamen) is a society of the Anglican Church. It cares for the practical and spiritual welfare of seafarers of all races and creeds in 230 ports throughout the world. Working through a network of chaplains and staff, each year on average it makes 64,000 ship visits and welcomes 500,000 seafarers to its centres, visits 800 seafarers in hospital and helps in around 1,000 justice and welfare case Registered charity no: 212432
For media information on the Angel Appeal, please contact:
Nathalie Visele, Director,
Shamal Marketing Communications (SMC)
PO Box 24459
Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
Tel.: +971 50 4576525,
Fax: +971 4 3124313
E-mail: nathalie@theshamalgroup.com
For media information on the Mission to Seafarers, please contact:
Peter Pickles, press officer,
The Mission to Seafarers,
St Michael Paternoster Royal,
College Hill, London EC4R 2RL
Tel: + 44 20 7248 5202
Fax: +44 20 7248 4761
Email: press@missiontoseafarers.org
© Press Release 2007
