PLEASE NOTE:
This fund is currently closed and we are unable to accept any new applications. This page will be updated when the fund reopens.
We understand this is very difficult time for many families. For any further support, seafarers and their family members can contact our SeafarerHelp team at any time, 24 hours a day, using the contact details at www.seafarerhelp.org.
The Seafarers Emergency Fund (SEF) is available to provide immediate, essential aid to seafarers and families of seafarers, who are directly involved in sudden or unforeseen crises. The fund may be needed to cover expenses such as psychological counselling, medical bills, repatriation and a number of other unexpected costs.
The SEF is available to welfare organisations and trade unions in order to provide seafarers and/or their families with the goods or services they need in an emergency. The fund is not intended to be used for long-term maintenance or for situations where other sources of relief are available, but each application is considered on its own merits, on a personalised and timely basis and with confidentiality.
This fund is made possible by grants from The TK Foundation, the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and Seafarers UK.
Our SeafarerHelp team received a message from a seafarer who had not worked at sea for over a year due to a medical condition and needed financial support.
In early April, an Indian seafarer contacted SeafarerHelp when he was unable to join his vessel in Tunisia due to COVID-19 restrictions but, without a salary, he was unable to afford his hotel expenses or flight home.
In June 2019, two Indian seafarers, Mayur and Aniket, finally returned home after spending 22 months stranded on their ship.
When a seafarer's son was involved in an accident and the family could not afford the hospital bills, our regional office in the Philippines supported them and arranged a grant from the Seafarers Emergency Fund.
The Seafarers Emergency Fund can provide immediate, essential aid to seafarers in dire need.
We are grateful to our main funders for their continued support:
