The Seafarers International Relief Fund (SIRF) has actually reached its objective of increasing US$ 1 million to supply essential alleviation for seafarers and also their households influenced by COVID.

The target was gotten to many thanks to a significant contribution from NYK Line, plus lots of various other individual and also business benefactors, consisting of most lately the TKFoundation The complete elevated by SIRF presently stands at US$ 1.17 million. Further contributions are extremely welcome and also will certainly make it possible for SIRF to prolong its dilemma well-being feedback to the COVID pandemic.

The SIRF charm was introduced in May this year when the disastrous range of the most up to date wave of the pandemic in India ended up being clear. Several leading seafarer well-being charities, consisting of The Seafarers’ Charity, The Mission to Seafarers, ISWAN, Sailors’ Society and also Stella Maris, in addition to various other delivery sector gamers, integrated to discover methods to supply immediate assistance to seafarers and also their households. Together, they swiftly created SIRF as an emergency situation alleviation campaign to increase funds to supply fast aid, originally in India and also with the prospective to broaden to various other nations.

Image Credits: SIRF

In much less than 3 months, SIRF has actually elevated greater than US$ 1 million, every one of which goes in the direction of sustaining seafarers and also their households from the hazard of COVID. The most current SIRF gives consist of moneying for Stella Maris to supply food parcels to greater than 1,000 seafaring households in Kochi, Kerala, plus financing for assistance employees to supply post-COVID treatment, therapy, and also treatment, consisting of professional look after youngsters.

Speaking in behalf of SIRF, Catherine Spencer, Chief Executive of The Seafarers’ Charity, commented:

“We are enjoyed have actually surpassed our target of US$ 1 million. This was an enthusiastic objective, however one that mirrored the disastrous influence of the pandemic, specifically in India, where lots of seafaring neighborhoods have actually been severely influenced, via lives shed and also extreme wellness effects, in addition to the individual prices for the source of incomes of seafarers. To have actually reached this objective in much less than 3 months is a fantastic testimony to delivery’s worldwide neighborhood. All our benefactors, huge and also little, have actually mobilised on behalf of seafarers and also every buck has actually aided to supply immediate, life-saving assistance to those most in demand.

“We would also like to express our deep gratitude to NYK Line for its substantial donation, which is a wonderful expression of its support and solidarity for the world’s seafarers. It is no exaggeration to say that thanks to NYK Line and our other donors, including the TK Foundation, lives will be saved.”

Tomoyuki Koyama, Senior Managing Executive Officer, NYK Line, commented:

“We are excited to hear that SIRF has exceeded its goal of raising $1 million in a span of only a few months to aid seafarers and their families during the COVID pandemic. This effort truly exemplifies the solidarity of the industry. Although our activity may have been small considering the impact that the pandemic has had on seafarers, we believe that all stakeholders within the international shipping industry should stand hand in hand with our seafarers, essential workers who are vitally needed to keep the worldwide supply chain in operation.”

Susie Karlshoej, Managing Director of the TK Foundation, claimed:

“In response to the unfolding crises for seafarers in India during the latest wave of COVID-19, the TK Foundation is pleased to have made a grant to the Seafarers International Relief Fund to support a number of projects supporting seafarers and their families in India. This grant is in line with the TK Foundation’s mission to fulfil the legacy of J. Torben Karlshoej by supporting the welfare needs of seafarers worldwide and we are proud to support seafarers in India with a grant to the SIRF at this time.”

SIRF wants to reveal its honest many thanks for all the business and also individual contributions that have actually been obtained in current weeks, consisting of those from GasLog, ADNOC Logistics & & Services, Bureau Veritas and also Denholm Group.

Further contributions welcome

Although the COVID circumstance in India is securing, lots of various other components of the globe are experiencing more waves of infection, consisting of various other seafaring countries, such as Indonesia, South Africa, and also thePhilippines SIRF is taking a look at exactly how it can prolong its assistance to seafaring neighborhoods in various other nations and also, as Catherine clarifies, it continues to be happy for more contributions to money its essential job:

“The funds raised will continue to support our work in India, where thanks to our delivery partners, we have been able to respond rapidly to the needs of those at risk. This has included funding for oxygenators, COVID care kits, food aid, and post-COVID support, as well as supporting a vaccination drive for seafarers. However, the pandemic is far from over, and the situation remains bleak in many nations. SIRF is looking at what we can do to help support seafarers in other countries, but this relies on your help. The SIRF appeal remains open for donations and we continue to ask you to dig deep in support.”

The SIRF Fund is provided and also managed by The Seafarers’ Charity (previously Seafarers UK), a give funder with reputable administration systems and also procedures for surveillance and also assessment to make certain performance and also openness. 100% of the SIRF contributions will certainly aid seafarers and also their households influenced by COVID.

SIRF remains to invite assistance from private or business benefactors. To contribute please browse throughhttps://donate.theseafarerscharity.org/sirf Alternatively, e-mail keziah.cunningham@theseafarerscharity.org or call +44 (0) 20 7932 0000.