Since 1851, the Society has awarded individuals and crews who have shown courage, bravery and expert skill during rescues at sea, and is once again on the lookout for our seafaring heroes.

Nominations for the Skill and Gallantry Awards are now open with the Society seeking worthy recipients for its Lady Swaythling Trophy (for an outstanding feat of seamanship); Edward and Maisie Lewis Award (for an outstanding air/sea rescue or casevac) and the Emile Robin Award (for an outstanding sea rescue by a British Captain or Chief Officer of a vessel of any nationality, or the Captain or Chief Officer (of any nationality) of a British owned or flagged merchant vessel). Nominations are also open for Crew/Team and Individual Commendations (for outstanding actions in saving or safeguarding life at sea).

The charity is calling for nominations relating to rescues that took place between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026. The closing date for submissions is Friday 8 May 2026.

This year’s prestigious Skill and Gallantry awards ceremony will take place at the Society’s Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 6 October, at Fishmongers’ Hall in London.

Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Captain Justin Osmond, said: “As they do each year, the Skill & Gallantry Awards will allow us to commemorate the unsung heroes of the maritime industry. It is always an honour to commend the selfless actions taken by those in the maritime community who have been working at sea in dangerous conditions over the last year. 

“Whilst those working within the maritime and rescue communities are often humble and consider themselves to only be doing their job, it is important that we recognise and celebrate truly heroic acts and as such, I encourage anyone to come forward who has a nomination to make.”

Founded after the tragic loss of a fleet of fishing boats in 1839, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society provides financial support to individuals in need who have worked or are still working at sea in the merchant marine and fishing industries, as well as their dependants. Last year alone, the Society made regular grant payments to 1,236 cases of people in need at a cost of £1.1 million.

To submit a nomination for this year’s Skill and Gallantry Awards, contact: 

Capt Justin Osmond RN, Chief Executive 

Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, 1 North Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1TL  

Tel: 01243 789329  

general@shipwreckedmariners.org.uk

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Starring seafaring songsters, The Wellington Wailers, everyone attending had a great time foot-stomping along to the band’s brilliant tunes. The Society is delighted to have the support of such a great pub and send a big shout out ‘thank you’ to everyone who donated to support our charity’s work on behalf of the maritime community.

You can find out more about the pub at https://www.redlionarundel.com/.

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Captain Ben Blackburn

The crew of Rescue 1, the Falkland Islands’ only Search and Rescue helicopter, received the Edward and Maisie Lewis Award for their extraordinary courage and professionalism in attempting a long‑range rescue of the stricken fishing vessel Argos Georgia on 22nd July 2024.

Captain Ben Blackburn, commanding the Fishery Patrol Vessel Lilibet, was named the 2025 recipient of the Emile Robin Award for outstanding leadership and seamanship in perilous South Atlantic conditions. Supported by an RAF A400M, he and his crew successfully rescued 13 fishermen from a life raft during a gruelling 48‑hour operation that tested their skill, judgement and stamina to the limits.

Skipper Grant Irvine of the fishing vessel Opportune was awarded the Lady Swaythling Trophy for outstanding seamanship after his calm leadership saved his crew when the vessel flooded and sank off the Shetland Islands in March 2024. His decision not to risk sending crew into the engine room, combined with skilful mustering and deployment of survival equipment, ensured the safe evacuation of all aboard.

Skipper Tim Chivers and crewman Peter Hickman, of the workboat Malamute, received a Crew Commendation for their sharp observation and decisive actions on the River Thames on 17^th December 2024. Spotting what appeared at first to be debris, they rapidly manoeuvred their vessel alongside and pulled a young woman from the freezing river, saving her life.

Tim Chivers and Peter Hickman

The crew of HM Coastguard Rescue 163 were presented with a Crew Commendation for their extraordinary efforts in saving the life of a yachtsman at Newhaven on 4th July 2024. When his yacht broke free from its moorings and smashed against the harbour wall, the helicopter crew executed a high-risk rescue in extreme conditions, lowering their winch paramedic onto the disintegrating vessel to bravely pull him clear.

Three Royal Navy Reserve crews were honoured with a Crew Commendation for their seamanship, professionalism and teamwork during the rescue of the yacht, Wizard of ID, near Portsmouth on 15th June 2024. With power lost and heavy seas pushing the vessel towards the rocks, the Reservists manoeuvred their RHIBs in gale-force conditions to place a crew member aboard, tend to the casualty and rig a tow line, successfully bringing the yacht to safety.

The crew of the Fishery Patrol Vessel Lilibet also received a Crew Commendation for their exceptional stamina and seamanship in rescuing 13 survivors from the sinking Argos Georgia. Sailing 250 nautical miles in storm-force winds and 30 foot seas, the crew worked tirelessly over 48 hours to bring all 13 to safety.

Rescue 163

Lord Lewin Awards were presented to three outstanding volunteers for service to the charity too. Rebecca Austin, Honorary Agent for Grimsby, was recognised for her dedicated casework on behalf of local seafarers and their families. Richard and Linda Sadler, Honorary Agents for Tenby, Wales, were honoured for their exceptional commitment in managing and relocating the Society’s collecting mines, overcoming logistical challenges and raising vital funds for seafarers in need.

The honours were presented at the Society’s 186th Annual General Meeting held at Fishmongers’ Hall in London on Tuesday 7 October.

Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Captain Justin Osmond RN, commented: “Our Skill and Gallantry Awards, now in their 174th year, once again highlight the extraordinary courage, technical skill and selfless commitment shown by those who serve at sea and those who support them ashore. This year’s recipients represent the very highest standards of seamanship, bravery and dedication. It is also a privilege to honour our volunteers, whose support allows the Society to continue its vital work for seafarers in need.”

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society offers support to those across the UK that are suffering hardship during, or after fulfilling their life at sea. The charity continues to provide help to thousands of individuals each year by offering financial and practical support to those in need, and last year launched an additional support fund to further help seafarers in need affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

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This year, the charity’s annual competition received nearly 1,000 quality entries from amateur and professional photographers alike, with the judging panel awarding the overall prize to David Stearne for his entry, ‘Standing on the shoulders of giants – to get the ultimate sea view!’, an incredible shot of a seagull perched on top of the Mediterranean Gull statue at Folkestone Harbour in Kent. The image won the photographer a £1,000 prize voucher for photographic equipment.

In addition to the overall prize, winners were also named in five categories. These included returning favourites – Coastal Views, People and Recreation, Industry, and Ships and Wrecks – as well as a newly introduced category for this year’s competition, Maritime Security.

• Coastal Views: Thomas Rutherford – ‘Monster wave crashing over the Harbour wall’ taken in Seaham Harbour, County Durham
• People and Recreation: Clive Blount – ‘Hard fought’ taken in Cowes, Isle of Wight
• Industry: Ian Douglas – ‘Recovery’ taken in Cromer, Norfolk
• Ships and Wrecks: Gary Beale – ‘The SS Denham’ taken in Leasowe Bay, Wirral
• Maritime Security: John Crisp – ‘Sitting in The Darkness’ taken in Loch Long, Scotland

The winning images were selected by a prestigious panel of photography and maritime experts, which comprised Sophie Batterbury, picture editor of the i, former Sunday Times picture editor, Ray Wells and Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Captain Justin Osmond RN.

The Society, which provides financial support to former seafarers and their dependants, encouraged photographers of all abilities to submit pictures that captured the essence of the UK’s enduring connection with the sea, including merchant ships, fishermen, coastline, harbours, ports and wildlife.

Captain Justin Osmond said, “Now in its thirteenth year, the Ultimate Sea View photography competition continues to showcase the nations love for our coastlines and the pride we take in our maritime heritage. Despite the ongoing challenges faced by our seafaring community, their outstanding contribution remains vital to our daily lives. That’s why it remains important that we use the competition as a platform to acknowledge and celebrate the UK and Ireland’s maritime industry and ensure that those working within it have access to essential support.

“We thought that David Stearne’s winning image, ‘Standing on the shoulders of giants – to get the ultimate sea view!’, was both powerful and humorous, showcasing the bold recreational elements of our maritime heritage. Its scale and perspective captured the judges’ attention immediately, standing out as a true ‘Ultimate Sea View’. As always, on behalf of the Society, I would like to say a massive thank you to all of those who entered this year, and we look forward to seeing your images in 2026!”

The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society supports fishermen, merchant mariners and their dependants who are suffering financial hardship, whether due to accident, ill health, unemployment or in retirement after a life spent working at sea. Last year, the Society distributed grants amounting to £1.4 million in over 2,000 cases of need.

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Members and friends of the Society wishing to attend should notify The Chief Executive.

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Fizza, whose poetry has graced over 100 international journals, has authored a remarkable new chapbook: The Lament of the Sunken Ships.

In this collection, the world’s greatest and most tragic shipwrecks find fresh voice. From the mighty Lusitania to the storied vessels of the Spanish Armada, Andrea Doria, and many more – some infamous, others lost to time – each poem gives the ship itself the final word, capturing its last thoughts and the weight of countless human stories it carried on its final voyage.

We are deeply grateful for Fizza’s thoughtful contribution and for reminding us, through poetry, that the stories of the sea belong to all people, far beyond the shores of Britain. Her chapbook is a testament to memory, loss, and the shared heritage of those working in the maritime sector.

We invite our supporters, friends, and all with an interest in maritime history and literature to explore Fizza’s moving collection.

 The Lament of the Sunken Ships by Fizza Abbas (Gumroad)

Our thanks go to Fizza for reaching out and for shining a new light on stories of the sea we strive to remember and honour every day.

If you have a story, project, or creative response linked to maritime heritage, please contact the Society—we would love to hear from you.

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In the summer edition of “Coontin Kin,” the magazine of the Shetland Family History Society, historian Alan Beattie – whose own family links span several generations of local shipping – explores the Society’s unique contribution to Shetland’s seafaring heritage.

Responding to Tragedy

The hazardous nature of fishing and shipping has shaped Shetland’s story for centuries, with tragic losses in the 19th and early 20th centuries leaving deep scars on the islands. In 1839, moved by such disasters, the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society (now known simply as the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society) was launched to provide practical relief and comfort to those left behind. From the beginning, Shetland was included among the far-flung outposts supported by the Society’s growing network of voluntary agents.

By the late 1840s, hundreds of Shetland mariners proudly carried their Society medallions – tokens of membership sometimes worn around the neck for identification if disaster struck. The local agents were often postmasters, merchants or ship agents – trusted figures who maintained subscriptions, administered relief, and corresponded with London on behalf of those in need. Legendary island names resound through the records: William Rae Duncan, Lerwick postmaster and the first resident Shetland agent, later followed by Joseph Leask and the local shipping firm Hay & Co.

Lifelines in Action

The Society’s impact is captured in remarkable stories from newspaper archives. In 1840, a Shetland fishing boat, blown off course by a gale, survived a harrowing 36-hour ordeal before landing, exhausted, on the coast of Norway. With the help of the British Consul and, crucially, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, the crew were clothed, fed and made their way home. In other cases, the Society responded rapidly to support widows and orphans, as seen when two boats were lost on a July day in 1842, leaving dozens of dependents.

By the late 19th century, agents in Shetland were distributing thousands of pounds in grants at a time when the local membership could only raise a fraction of the sum – evidence of the Society’s broad charitable reach. Typical support included annual grants to widows and children, help for elderly parents, and funds for men stranded or injured far from home.

A Living Legacy

Archival ledgers in Shetland still preserve poignant glimpses of the Society’s influence: lists of members, records of appeals and relief provided, and names of donors who rallied to the cause. Alan Beattie’s article highlights these precious sources and testifies to the Society’s vital role not only in providing material support, but in knitting together the maritime community in times of hardship.

That tradition continues today. Last year we received nearly 900 new applications for assistance, and distributed grants amounting to £1.4 million in over 2,000 cases of need.

With heartfelt thanks to Alan Beattie and the Shetland Family History Society for sharing this chapter of mutual history. The full article is available in the latest issue of “Coontin Kin.” Shetlanders and all whose lives have been shaped by the sea can take pride in the legacy of kindness and solidarity that endures through the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society to this day.

For more about the Society’s ongoing work, or to discover how you can support seafarers in distress, please visit www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk.

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We welcome photographers of all abilities to capture breathtaking seascapes for their collections, with the grand prize of a £1,000 photographic equipment voucher. Submissions can be made via the Society’s website using the dedicated entry form or through our Instagram channel (@ShipwreckedMariners) by using the hashtag #SMSPhotoComp2025.

2024 Photography Competition winner: Paul Newman – ‘The Beer Fleet’

The competition will once again be judged by a prestigious panel of experts, including former Sunday Times Picture Editor, Ray Wells, Picture Editor of the i, Sophie Batterbury, and the Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Capt. Justin Osmond RN.

Discussing the launch of the competition, Captain Justin Osmond RN, said: “As we launch this year’s competition, I continue to be inspired by the creativity and passion shown by entrants from across the nation. Year after year the entries reflect not only exceptional talent, but a deep respect for the UK and Ireland’s coastlines and maritime heritage. I am confident this upcoming competition will be yet another fantastic showcase!

“While our maritime industry can often go unnoticed and unappreciated, its role in shaping our past, supporting our present, and securing our future cannot be overstated. The competition serves as a great platform for us to proudly exhibit and commemorate our enduring connection to the sea.”

To enter the competition, submit your images through the Society’s dedicated form by 18 August 2025. You can also send entries via email, post, or through Instagram (@ShipwreckedMariners) with #SMSPhotoComp2025.

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The Society is committed to this annual campaign to promote and highlight the plight of serving and retired seafarers, as well as raising awareness of the dangers and sacrifices faced by those who work at sea. This includes recognising the vital contribution the maritime and fishing industries play in allowing us to preserve our standard of living.

Looking back at the Society’s distinguished history we recently commemorated the 80^th anniversary of VE Day. During six years of conflict during WW2, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society made a significant contribution to the lives of thousands of survivors of shipwreck; not just sailors but soldiers, airmen, nurses and civilians who were landed at British ports after being rescued. In fact, the numbers of people the Charity assisted – including fishermen and their dependants – are quite remarkable: over 60,600 seamen and others following rescue; 6,600 widows; 8,000 orphans and 4,100 aged parents were helped.

Fast forward 80 years and the hardship and distress faced by so many in the seafaring community continues. Life at sea is demanding, but life at home can be challenging too. Following national research indicating that up to 4.8 million individuals in the UK are living without at least one essential household appliance, further investigation by the Society and our partner organisations has shown this to be a significant issue within the fishing and maritime communities. To address this issue, we have recently launched the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society Household Appliance Fund which reflects our continued dedication to enhance the living conditions of those who work at sea.

Initially the Fund will provide grants for up to 100 low-income fishers and mariners to receive essential household appliances, such as cookers, fridges, freezers and washing machines. The cost of providing this additional support, in addition to meeting the ever-increasing needs of our regular beneficiaries, means that during this year’s Seafarers Support Week, we have set ourselves the challenging target of raising an additional £35,000. This will allow us to continue to provide much needed support to individuals and families who in many cases have nowhere else to turn.

Across the past year we received nearly 900 new applications for assistance and distributed grants amounting to £1.4 million in over 2,000 cases of need. The funds raised through Seafarers Support Week will be used to finance medical equipment and support those suffering long-term illness and disability; to provide financial respite for young families whose main income has been lost or greatly reduced; to provide household repairs and meet the funeral costs for a seafarer whose family are unable to meet the expense, as well as to support the new Household Appliance Fund.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

It is due to the loyalty and kind heartedness of our supporters that we are able to continue our important work.

To support the Society’s work please visit: www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk/donate

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At the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, we have long recognised the unique challenges faced by those working at sea – and now, with the introduction of this dedicated fund, we are taking another important step in addressing the real, practical needs of seafarers and their families.

As many as 4.8 million people in the UK are living without at least one essential household appliance, according to research by national anti-poverty charity Turn2Us. Our further investigation, in partnership with colleagues at the Fishermen’s Mission and Sailors’ Children’s Society, has found that this is an all-too-common experience for those living and working within the fishing and maritime sectors.

In response, we have established the Household Appliance Fund, dedicating an initial £30,000 to assist up to 100 families with accessing essential items such as fridges, freezers, cookers and washing machines.

A key feature of this new fund is the removal of financial assessment requirements. In a move away from our standard grant procedures, applicants currently receiving Universal Credit or similar benefits can apply without undergoing income or savings evaluations. This ensures that those who need help the most can access support without unnecessary delays or administrative barriers.

Captain Justin Osmond RN, Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, said:

“Our new Household Appliance Fund reflects our continued dedication to enhancing the living conditions of those who work at sea. By removing financial barriers to essential appliances for seafarers and their families, we can significantly improve their daily lives.

“The fishing and maritime communities we serve are proud, extremely self-reliant, and often find it hard to ask for help when times are difficult, but our message is simple – we understand the challenges you are facing and will help wherever we can.”

For more than 180 years, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society has supported seafarers in times of crisis and growing financial hardship. The Household Appliance Fund is the latest initiative in our wide-ranging programme of support for the maritime community.

If you are a working mariner or fisher currently receiving Universal Credit or a similar benefit and require help purchasing essential household appliances, we encourage you to contact our Grants team on 01243 787761 or email grants@shipwreckedmariners.org.uk.

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