About the Angel Appeal
The Mission to Seafarers is a charitable organisation committed to the well-being of seafarers around the world. Founded in England in 1856, and operating in the Gulf since 1962, the Mission is working to improve the quality of seafarer's lives, irrespective of colour, race, faith or belief. Every year, over 6500 ships carrying a host of supplies and over 140,000 seafarers drop anchor in the East Coast waters of the Emirates. They are representative of the ships that deliver an amazing 99.3% of all UAE imports - our every day necessities, luxuries and comforts.
Yet, the seafarers that bring these things to us often have to go through long periods of isolation and loneliness which are products of their separation from their families. Most of them remain on the ships off Fujairah, unable to come ashore, and often without the basic facilities on board that we take for granted.
The Mission to Seafarers Angel Appeal is marking its 150th Anniversary Year by raising funds to build a Seafarers Support Boat, to offer them a 'home away from home'. The Support Boat will go out to the seafarers in the anchorage of the east coast of the UAE equipped with:
- E-mail and telephone facilities to enable them to call home.
- Medical Clinic with paramedics on board.
- A Welfare Officer with a sympathetic ear and the ability to help solve seafarers' problems.
- Book and DVD Libraries.
- A place to relax, chat and unwind.
