A million dollar boat to care for seafarers
Posted: 20 February 2006
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A project that aims to raise a million dollar boat to care for seafarers was launched in Dubai on Wednesday.
 The Angel Appeal, a project that is said to be a first of its kind in the world aims to raise over $1 million to build and equip a boat for sea farers wellness. The customised boat, initially named Angel will support some 140,000 seafarers using the East Coast Anchorages of the UAE each year.
It will be built by Albwardy Marine in Al Jadaf, Dubai and will provide an Internet Café, a library with both educational and fictional DVDs and books, a medical clinic with a fully trained paramedic, access to telecommunications and pastoral and spiritual support with a dedicated Welfare Officer.
The order for the Angel boat was placed yesterday and the estimated time to build the craft is approximately eight to ten months.
The project was launched by The Mission to Seafarers, an international organisation that cares for seafarers in over 300 ports around the world, regardless of race or religion. The boat is expected to be operational by the end of 2006.
“This is a superb achievement to celebrate the international charity’s 150 th anniversary,” says Rev Steven Miller of Mission to Seafarers, Dubai . Miller is a founding member of the group since 1962.
He said 99 per cent of what we use in the region is being transported through shipping and the people owe thanks to the seafarers and seamen who have been the key persons behind these. Seamen are usually on transit and remain away from their families for six months or more
“We certainly should care for the seafarers,” Miller added. “Far too many seafarers on board ships anchored off the East Coast do not get the opportunity to come ashore. Many of these vessels can be up to 18 miles out and it is too costly for the seafarers or their companies to consider shore-leave”.
“To illustrate the scale of the problem, the East Coast is the second largest Bunker Anchorage in the world with 100 to 150 ships anchored off shore at any given time. As many as 2,000 seafarers could be unable to communicate with family and friends at home for weeks, sometimes months, leading to isolation and loneliness, which the “Angel” is designed to alleviate,” he concluded.
David May, Chair of The Angel Appeal Committee, enthused, “We have been amazed by the level of interest in this project. We have already received substantial pledges of support from The Fujairah National Group, Lamnalco of Sharjah and The National Bank of Dubai , The Fairmont Dubai as well as many smaller private donations”.
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