Shipwrecked Mariners' Society

About Us

The One Hundred and Sixty Ninth Annual General Meeting of the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society will be held at Fishmongers’ Hall, London EC4 (by kind permission of the Company) on Tuesday, 7th October 2008 at 12 noon.  Members and friends of the Society wishing to attend should notify The Chief Executive at Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, 1 North Pallant, Chichester PO19 1TB

Caring for Merchant Seafarers, Fishermen and Their Families Since 1839

Welcome to the Shipwrecked Mariners' website, I hope you find your visit interesting. Since we were founded in 1839 our aim has been the same, to relieve distress among the seafaring and ex-seafaring community. Thankfully, shipwrecks are fewer but they still occur bringing tragedy in their wake, and then there are those who have left the sea, through accident, ill-health or on retirement and their dependants who are living on meagre incomes and in need of assistance. Please feel free to contact us should you require further information about any aspect of our work. Your support is much appreciated. Thank you.

Malcolm Williams
Chief Executive

"At a time when funds have been strained to their utmost, your help to them has meant that they have been able to keep going and given them some amount of grieving time without having to worry too much about finances."

The Society was founded as a result of the tragic loss of a fleet of fishing boats on the north Devon coast the previous year. A month later, Her Majesty Queen Victoria graciously announced herself Patron of the Society and since then it has been honoured by Royal Patronage. Our first President was Admiral Sir James Cockburn who was responsible for attacking and burning Washington, including the White House, in 1814 and for taking Napoleon to St Helena. In 1850, the Society was incorporated by an act of Parliament, on which the Rules and Regulations of the Society are still based.

"With many thanks from the daughter of Mrs. H. The grant she received made all the difference to her life for many years. She was 97 and would have been 98 next month."

Today, the Society still gives help in the event of shipwreck, but our main purpose is to provide financial support to retired seafarers and their widows in cases of need. Over 2,000 people receive regular six-monthly grants; others receive a special grant to meet a particular need. The Society receives several hundred applications for assistance each year. To be eligible, an applicant must be able to prove low net income and normally a minimum of 10 years' sea service, although in certain circumstances less will be accepted. Regular grants are not normally given to those under 60 years of age. If you would like to learn more about the types of grants that we provide, or if you would like to apply for assistance, please click here.

"Thank you to everyone who has made this possible. The benefit for myself is immeasurable. I no longer have to stand on a stool to step in or out of the shower. In a word it is "GREAT". Thanks again to all concerned."

The Society is a member of The Merchant Navy Welfare Board and co-operates closely with other member charities to ensure that resources are distributed as fairly as possible where there is the greatest need.

The annual Christmas Card Appeal has for some years been our main fundraising activity - click here to find out more.

Member of The Association of Charity Officers