It is estimated that as many as 160,000 Filipino seafarers are directly affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

See bottom of page for infographic on human statistics on effects of Typhoon Haiyan.

• The ITF Seafarers Trust has donated US$100,000 to the two ITF Affiliate unions in the Philippines, AMOSUP and PSU to help them deliver emrgency relief to seafarers and their families.
• Smart providing satellite phone links for Filipino seafarers to typhoon affected areas -see here for more details
• The Orange Foundation has donated US$30,000 to the Seafarers Emergency Fund to pay for free communications for Filipino seafarers.
• The German Shipowners organisation has provided US$20,000 to the German Seamans Mission and Mission to Seafarers to pay for free phone cards for Filipino seafarers.
• The Philippines Seafarers Union (PSU) is making efforts to distribute relief supplies in Cebu province. Its members are from the affected areas in Cebu and Leyte.
• The Mission to Seafarers has provided £20,000 for all 47 centres that are directly funded by HQ, to enable Filipino seafarers to receive free Wi-Fi, top up phone cards and access to computers, and they are providing support through ship-visiting, transport and counselling. They have issued a poster to all their 121 seafarers centres worldwide with information for seafarers about who to contact to trace missing relatives affected by the Typhoon.
• The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has set up a relief fund that unions can donate to. Further information is available here.
• The Apostleship of the Sea (Stella Maris) in Manila has free accomodation in their dormitories for Filipino seafarers who need to stay in the capital while they trace their families. Further information is available from Fr Paulo Prigol. You can contact him via email here. The AoS centre in Cebu is available as a logistic hub for relief efforts. Further information is available from Fr Yoyo. You can contact him via email here.
• The ITF affiliate Filipino union AMOSUP using their training ship, the Felix Oca, to transport humanitarian supplies provided by Norweigan shipowners and others to the affected areas
• The shipping company MOL donating US$30,000 to the relief effort
• KVH's Headland Media using their daily news bulletin, Newslink, to provide information on the typhoon and aftermath to their 100,000 Filipino seafarer readers on board 10,000 ships all over the world. KVH are also providing free calls via their satellite communication on ships for Filipino seafarers.
• ISWAN is also helping to share information and provide a service to seafarers, via their SeafarerHelp free helpline, who are concerned about their families back home in the Philippines. SeafarerHelp will have Tagalog speakers available.
• Seafarer welfare organisations and missions have also put their chaplains and welfare workers on alert to cope with Filipino seafarers who receive tragic news while at sea or in port.
• Carnival Corporation & Miami Heat pledge at least $1 million for relief efforts
• V Ships have set up an incident response team in the Philippines for their crews
• The charity, Seafarers UK, has provided £15,000 in support of the Seafarers Emergency Fund, enabling Filipino seafarers to get in touch with their families for free via seafarer and mission centres around the world. Seafarers UK helps people in the maritime community by providing vital funding to support seafarers in need and their families. See: www.seafarers-uk.org. The UK Merchant Navy Welfare Board has also donated £5,000 to the Seafarers Emergency Fund.

Seafarers can find their nearest seafarer centre via our online directory.

Press enquiries should contact press[at]iswan.org.uk