The change will serve to enhance our work and provide wider appeal to a new generation of seafarers. At the same time, the society s flying angel symbol has been modernised, the fifth change to the angel in the society s history. Canon Jones said the angel will still be instantly recognised by seafarers as representing a welcome, friendship, help and people they could trust. Today the Mission cares for the spiritual and practical needs of all seafarers in 300 ports worldwide through a network of chaplains, staff and volunteers. In over 100 ports it runs centres where seafarers find hospitality, help, recreation and telephone and postal facilities so that they can keep in touch with home.
Chaplains handle a variety of problems for seafarers.
Unsafe conditions, poor or insufficient food, non-payment of wages and denial of medical treatment are among the problems seafarers ask the society to take up on their behalf. The Church s work among seafarers through the Mission is made possible by the prayers and support of individuals, parishes and committees who help make people aware of the isolated and dangerous lives which seafarers often lead. The work of building parish links in the Ely diocese is carried out by the Mission's central region. It cares for the practical and spiritual welfare of seafarers of all races and creeds in 300 ports throughout the world Working through a network of chaplains and staff, it makes 75,000 ship visits, welcomes over 1,000,000 seafarers to its centres, visits 1,000 seafarers in hospital and helps in more than 1,700 justice and welfare cases each year.