2018 marks the 200th anniversary for Sailors’ Society – one of the largest and most comprehensive international seafarers’ support charities. Despite numerous activities planned or underway throughout the year to mark this momentous occasion, Sailors’ Society’s CEO Stuart Rivers said the work to support seafarers and their communities continues in earnest. Daniel Barnes reports.
The International SeaKeepers Society promotes oceanographic research, conservation, and education through direct involvement with the yachting community by enabling yacht owners to take full advantage of their unique potential to advance marine sciences and to raise awareness about global ocean issues. In the past 12 months, this Florida-founded not-for-profit organisation has expanded its outreach to the US West Coast and internationally into Asia. Daniel Barnes spoke to the society’s President and CEO, Richard Snow, to discover more.
Whilst ever-improving connectivity makes the world seem a smaller place, merchant seafarers, who are typically spending 9-12 months away from home and surrounded by water, may tend to disagree. This time away from home and land has and always will be an accepted part of a career at sea, but for the charity Sailors’ Society, improving communication lines for these people is one of its missions. Daniel Barnes spoke to Sailors’ Society CEO, Stuart Rivers about the charity’s new found position as a ‘digital platform provider’ following the recent launch of a new smartphone app which will help link 28 welfare organisations together in the palm of your hand.
There are few institutions across the global maritime community that garner greater respect and admiration than DGzRS – the Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger, also known internationally as the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service. Patrolling Germany’s coastline since 1865, the team of fulltime personnel and devoted volunteers that make up DGzRS continues to save people from distress at sea.