Seafaring Heroes to be Honoured

National Maritime Charity Calls for Skill and Gallantry Award Nominations

National maritime charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, is calling on members of the maritime and rescue communities to nominate those who have demonstrated outstanding courage and expertise in aiding those in peril at sea, for its 167th Skill and Gallantry Awards.

Since 1851, the Society has presented the awards to those who have shown bravery and skill in rescues at sea and this year’s awards will be presented at the charity’s AGM in October.

Among last year’s recipients were Captain Patrik Norrgård, for the rescue of a seven-man crew from a sinking ship in the Dover Traffic Separation Scheme and Captain Jamie Wilson for his role in the rescue of over 900 migrants in the Mediterranean.

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 Navy and Fishing Fleets, as well as their dependants. Last year the Society distributed more than £1.4m in grants in over 2,000 cases of need and it received 565 new applications for assistance.

Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, Captain Justin Osmond, said: “Our Skill and Gallantry Awards help to raise awareness of the professionalism, courage and selflessness that our seafarers and rescue crews demonstrate in keeping others, whether they be maritime professionals or members of the public, safe from the dangers of the sea.

“The Society has been presenting these awards for 167 years and once again we are calling for nominations for those who have acted with skill and gallantry in rescuing those in peril at sea so that we, and the wider community, can acknowledge their tremendous efforts.”

The Society is calling for nominations of acts of rescue that took place between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018. To submit a nomination for this year’s Skill and Gallantry Awards, contact:

Justin Osmond, Chief Executive

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

Tel: 01243 789329

general@shipwreckedmariners.org.uk

The closing date for nominations is 12 noon, Friday 4 May 2018.