SPNL is a proud supporter of the Mission to Seafarers which provides help and support to the 1.5 million crewmen and women who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat.
The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) is open night and day, 365 days a year. They work in 200 ports across 50 countries, caring for seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs. Seafarers seek their assistance because all too often they have nowhere else to turn.
Over 90% of world trade is carried by sea, providing work to 1.5 million seafarers. Shipping is a truly international industry: in today’s global market you might have a Greek-owned vessel, registered in Malta, with officers from India and a mixed crew from Thailand, Indonesia, Vanuatu and the Philippines. Shipping provides people with many opportunities: to see the world and to work in a job where you know you’re making a difference.
However, it is also one of the world’s most dangerous occupations, with piracy, shipwreck and abandonment just some of the threats seafarers face. Mental health issues affect many seafarers, but MtS volunteers are there to provide emotional and spiritual support.