Flying Angel fundraiser nets Dh150,000

Dubai: The British Embassy in Dubai was host to the Angel Appeal high tea on Saturday, which raised more than Dh150,000 for seafarers in the region.

Treated to a large spread, visitors paid for tickets and dined to the sounds of a local band on the lawns of the Embassy, a service that was donated free of charge for the appeal.

The tea was held to raise funds for the running of the Flying Angel boat, which provides mobile services to seafarers that are unable to dock for long periods of time. The boat provides everything from personal toiletries to internet access, cheap calls and mobile phones.

"At any one time there are between 3,000 and 4,000 seafarers floating on their ships, waiting to either refuel, recrew, repair or recertify their vessels. They could be stuck at anchor for two or three days without the opportunity to come ashore: many seafarers involved in the tanker industry may not receive shore leave for nine months aboard ship.

The purpose of the Flying Angel is to bring seafarers that home away from home that they would receive if they were on land," Stephen Miller, director, The Mission of Seafarers FZCO, the charity who established the Flying Angel, said.

The ship is a floating version of the Mission's land-based centres, and goes out to any vessel during daylight hours free of charge.

A typical visit would last for two or three hours alongside each ship.

Raising awareness of the campaign to keep the Flying Angel afloat, which was launched in 2006, was just one of the rationales behind the high tea event.

"We need to carry on creating awareness of the importance of seafarers in that we all need them in our daily lives. Worldwide, 95 per cent of everything we have is shipped by sea. In this part of the world, 99.3 per cent of everything we have here in Dubai comes by sea. The second purpose of this event it to raise money to keep the boat going - it costs $750 [Dh2,754] a day to run."

Many seafarers involved in the tanker industry may not receive shore leave for nine months."

Stephen Miller

Director, Mission of Seafarers