Deidre Brock MP joined international maritime charity Sailors’ Society at a reception to mark its 200 years of supporting seafarers and their families around the world – including in Leith.
Deidre said: ““90 per cent of everything we use on a daily basis comes by sea, and the seafarers who transport it often face tough conditions and make great personal sacrifices,
“It was great to hear about the care and support Sailors’ Society has provided to seafarers in need over the past 200 years, including helping to look after their mental health during the long contracts at sea and supporting their families back at home in times of crisis.
“The charity has a long history of links with the port of Leith and some fascinating stories to tell. It’s good to see the connections still continue, with the charity still having a chaplain here and a presence within the maritime community.”
The maritime sector is an important part of the Scottish economy, supporting around 39,300 jobs and producing nearly £3.9 billion turnover annually. But most people will not be aware of the hundreds of thousands of seafarers who come into these ports every year.
Stuart Rivers, Sailors’ Society CEO, said: “MPs have a long history of supporting the charity’s work – very appropriately, our first Chairman was Bernard Shaw MP – and we are grateful to Deidre for helping us celebrate our bicentenary.
“However, being 200 years old doesn’t mean we can sit back on our laurels, and we continue to change and adapt in order to better support the men and women who play such an important role in transporting our goods at sea.”
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