Sir, The recent bad weather affecting several ships off our coastline (report, Feb 4) has brought into sharp relief the extraordinary situations the seafarers who crew the merchant fleet face in order to keep us in the manner to which we have become accustomed.
The media have praised those involved in the dramatic rescue of the crew and passengers of the Horncliff (off the coast of Scilly) and the Riverdance (near Blackpool). However, no mention has been made of the crews that daily face heavy seas.
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There are currently more than 1.2 million seafarers around the world manning the merchant fleet. The UK relies on shipping for more than 90 per cent of its daily needs. Seafarers bring us our food, our clothes, our petrol and our cars. We need them and they need us. Yet, because they are only in port for a few short hours, coupled with the long hours they work and the isolation they can feel while in a port miles from the nearest town, we push them to the backs of our minds.
As news breaks of possibly more foul weather to come, I urge all readers to remember the significant contribution seafarers make to the life of this country and to each and every one of us.
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The Rev Canon Bill Christianson
Secretary General
The Mission to Seafarers