Latest News 2021
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Seafarers International Relief Fund thanks AMWS for their recent $20,000 donation: 10th June 2021
Thank you again for your generous donation to the Seafarers International Relief Fund.... With best wishes Keziah Keziah Cunningham Director of Development The Seafarers' Charity |
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Maritime Industry Australia Limited MAX Magazine "Member Updates" Section. Edition 2101. June 2021.
MAX Magazine has just published a background article, written by the AMWS Chair Mr David Parmeter, on the Society's history, development, current activities and future directions. A copy of David's MAX article is contained in the file below 
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Newcastle: Merchant Navy Memorial Service. 5th June 2021.
Last Sunday, AMWS Councillor Jeanine Drummond attended the Newcastle Memorial Service for merchant mariners lost at sea in times of war. The service, held at the Newcastle Mission to Seafarers, was attended by Sharon Claydon, MP for Swansea, Jodie Harrison MP for Charlestown and the Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor. Jon Drummond acted as MC with Iain Steverson and Alan Budd from the Newcastle Merchant Navy Memorial Service Committee, also in attendance. As part of the ceremony, MP Ms Sharon Claydon delivered a moving speech about the significance of the Merchant Navy Memorial to the local community, including to those local seafarers who served on vessels of the US Army Small Ships fleet during World War 2. Next years service will be held on June 4th at 11am. |
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Merchant Navy Memorial Service for merchant mariners lost in time of war is being held Saturday 5th June at 1100
Location: Newcastle Mission to Seafarers. All welcome. Saturday, 5 June 2021 at 11:00 UTC+10 Hosted by: Mission to Seafarers, Newcastle and Women in Maritime. |
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The Australian Mariners Welfare Society donates $20,000 to the Seafarers International Relief Fund. 26th May 2021.
Leading seafarer welfare charities and shipping industry players have launched an emergency relief fund to support seafarers and their families devastated by the rampant COVID-19 pandemic in India and other countries. The Seafarers International Relief Fund has set a target of US $1 million. It has been established by bringing together leading international seafarer welfare organisations, The Seafarers’ Charity (formerly Seafarers UK) supported by The Mission to Seafarers, ISWAN, Sailors’ Society, Stella Maris, and other charities (including AMWS) – in a united appeal to the shipping industry – to deliver urgent support to seafarers and their families in India. See Seafarers International Relief Fund update below.
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Life membership Presentations to Captain Alan Tait OAM & Mr Malcolm Longstaff OAM: AMWS AGM. Sydney 18th May 2021.
At yesterdays Annual General Meeting of AMWS, the long serving and recently retired Chairman, Captain Alan Tait OAM, was presented with Life Membership. This honour was also awarded to another long serving Councillor Mr Malcolm Longstaff. Sadly Malcolm passed away recently. The current Chairman, Mr David Parmeter made the presentations on behalf of the Society. David's remarks recognising Alan's and Malcolm's long service are contained within the file below.
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Neptune Declaration Update. May 2021
World wide, as of May 2021 there are 814 Signatories to the Neptune Declaration. Excluding Instagram and Linkedin, there have been 2590 social media mentions and 3290 posts relating to the ND. Full ND Update is attached below.
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IMO declares 25th June 2021 as their "Fair Future 4 Seafarers" Day
"In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers found themselves both on the front line of the global response and subject to difficult working conditions surrounding uncertainties and difficulties around port access, re-supply, crew changeovers, repatriation, etc. The 2021 Day of the Seafarer campaign is structured to encourage governments to support seafarers amid the pandemic but will expand its message, calling for a fair future for seafarers". |
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After finding numerous and serious deficiencies, AMSA bans foreign ship from Australian ports. 30th April 2021
AMSA has banned the Panama-flagged bulk carrier, Movers 3, after months of detention in Weipa for appalling working and living conditions, and serious maintenance failures. The operator, Aswan Shipping has shown a complete disregard for its obligations to provide decent working and living conditions for its seafarers, and had not ensured its ships were maintained so they were safe for the crew and Australia’s marine environment. |
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AMWS provides 2 more AMC Scholarships First Semester - 2021
Following recommendations from the AMC scholarship committee, AMWS has confirmed two scholarships for students studying at the Australian Maritime College in the first semester 2021. The AMWS Council wishes both of these students, Mattias and Joshua all the best with their ongoing degree studies in nautical science and marine engineering. |
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The Trevor Howarth Memorial Sail Training Scholarship's most recent recipient, Dillion returned to Sydney on 14th April 2021.
On arrival Dillon was met by the AMWS Chair Mr David Parmeter and Mr Bill Little of Sydney Cove Rotary. Dillon's initial comments about his experiences on board included the following; "I found the voyage on the Young Endeavour a challenging but immensely rewarding experience. I particularly appreciated the companionship and interaction with the other trainees (and the good food).” Dillon is pictured at left holding his STS Young Endeavour Completion Certificate. Well done Dillon. |
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56th Annual Commemoration at the Merchant Navy Memorial in Sydney - Sunday 11th March 2021
Our thanks to the DCN for the following report. LAST Sunday a chilly, bright and blustery day in Sydney, seafarers, their families and associates gathered at the Rookwood Necropolis for the 56th annual commemoration at the Merchant Navy Memorial and Columbarium. In his opening remarks, Merchant Navy War Memorial Fund chairman David Field drew attention to the plight of modern seafarers during the pandemic period while also paying tribute to the seafarers who served during the two world wars. See the AMWS Facebook page for the full DCN article. |
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The AMWS and Sydney Cove Rotary Club "Trevor Howarth Memorial Sail Training Scholarship" recipient Dillion set sail today on the STS Young Endeavour. 4th April 2021
Dillion set sail today from Waterhen Naval Base along with 16 other scholarship and ballot recipients on the Young Endeavour's third voyage this year. The voyage is Sydney return Sydney 16th April 2021. The pre-departure picture of Dillion with Alan Tait & Bill Little (left) supports the ongoing strong relationship that exists between the Australian Mariners Welfare Society and the Sydney Cove Rotary Club. |
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The 56th Annual Commemoration at the Merchant Navy Memorial and Columbarium will be held on Sunday, April 11, 2021 commencing 1100 hours at the Rookwood Necropolis.
Rear Admiral Mark Hammond, AM, RAN Commander Australian Fleet will be guest speaker. See the attached file for full details.
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AMWS Jim Israel Young Endeavour Sail Training Scholarship Update. March 2021
Jim Israel AMWS Scholarship recipient Braedon receives his Programme Completion Certificate from the Captain of Young Endeavour. YE Youth Scheme advise, "On board, the specially trained Royal Australian Navy staff crew taught the “youthies” how to sail a square-rigged tall ship, including how to navigate, keep watch, climb the mast, set and furl the sails, cook in the galley and take the helm. While crewing the ship they also learned leadership skills, self-confidence and how to work in a team. The youth crew also had a digital detox with no phones and social media, and were encouraged to explore personal and team goals". Well done Braedon AMWS would like to thank the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme, the Salvation Army Youth Link and Anglicare for their support and assistance with the Jim Israel Scholarship programme |
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AMWS Jim Israel Young Endeavour Sail Training Scholarship Update. March 2021
Jim Israel AMWS Scholarship recipient Natasha receives her Programme Completion Certificate from the Captain of Young Endeavour. YE Youth Scheme advise, "On board, the specially trained Royal Australian Navy staff crew taught the “youthies” how to sail a square-rigged tall ship, including how to navigate, keep watch, climb the mast, set and furl the sails, cook in the galley and take the helm. While crewing the ship they also learned leadership skills, self-confidence and how to work in a team. The youth crew also had a digital detox with no phones and social media, and were encouraged to explore personal and team goals". Well done Natasha AMWS would like to thank the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme, the Salvation Army Youth Link and Anglicare for their support and assistance with the Jim Israel Scholarship programme |
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ReCAAP Piracy Incident Summary 2020
A total of 97 incidents (comprising 95 actual incidents and two attempted incidents) of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia in 2020. This accounts for a 17% increase in the total number of incidents, and a 32% increase in actual incidents reported in 2020 compared to 2019. |
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Two AMWS Jim Israel Sail Training Scholarship recipients set sail on the STS Young Endeavour. 9th March 2021
The Young Endeavour sailed from the RAN's Small Ship Base at Waverton at 4pm on the 9th March with two Jim Israel scholarship recipients, Natasha and Braedon on board. . Pictured left: Natasha and Braedon with AMWS Councillors Alan Tait and Graham Lightfoot. |
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AMWS Signs the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change. 6th march 2021.
Chair Mr David Parmeter, has today confirmed that the Australian Mariners Welfare Society has become a signatory to the Neptune Declaration. AMWS joins more than 700 international signatories to do so. The Neptune Declaration urges the implementation of four main actions to address the current crewing crisis:
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Seafarer Connect - International Seafarers in NSW one click closer to home and family. February 2021.
Via the Tas Bull Seafarers Foundation and in support of their initiative to bring free high-speed WIFI to seafarers in NSW, AMWS is pleased to announce that it has provided a $10,000 grant to support the programme. |
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"Shrinking Australian Fleet leaves Australia exposed" Greg Sheridan, Foreign Editor, The Australian, 17th February 2021
The Australian article referred to above was published by MIAL in their Weekly Summary, 23rd February 2021. The complete article can be read within the file below.
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Jim Israel Memorial Sail Training Scholarships on STS Young Endeavour to resume shortly. February 2021
Following the cancellation of the 2020 programme due to Covid, the STS Young Endeavour is shortly to resume its sail training programme. Via a selection process conducted by the Salvation Army and Anglicare, AMWS is delighted to announce that it will be sponsoring two candidates in March / April this year. In conjunction with Sydney Rotary and as part of the Trevor Haworth Memorial Award, it will also be co-sponsoring an additional trainee during the same period |
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John Dewa - Wollongong Citizen of the Year. January 2021
On behalf of the Council and Members of Australian Mariners Welfare Society I congratulate you on being names Wollongong’s Citizen of the Year for 2021. The work you do as Manager and Chaplain of the Port Kembla Mission to Seafarers is outstanding and it is excellent to see this sort of recognition from the broader community. All of us who followed the misfortunes inflicted upon the crew of the Ruby Princess while it was stranded in Port Kembla last year, understand and appreciate the vital role played by the Mission in providing badly needed assistance to those unfortunate individuals. Moreover the leadership shown by yourself in rallying the community to join this cause means this award is richly deserved. Once again congratulations and best regards. David Parmeter, Chairman AMWS |
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The Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change.
Australian Mariners Welfare Society supports the Neptune Declaration. The ongoing difficulties created by the COVID pandemic preventing seafarers joining and leaving vessels is a humanitarian crisis on a massive scale. It is afflicting thousands of the world’s seafarers and their families. Urgent action is required by governments at all levels to stop this needless suffering. For this reason over 300 companies and organisations have committed to the Neptune Declaration on Seafarer Wellbeing and Crew Change in a worldwide call to action to end the unprecedented crew change crisis caused by COVID-19. AMWS welcomes this development and lends its voice to the demand for urgent action. Neptune Declaration 2021
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Total AMWS grants and donations for seafarer welfare now exceed A$2.38m. January 2021
Since 2006, AMWS has provided grants, donations, scholarships, project funding and welfare payments to maritime related charities, students and other recipients exceeding A$2.38m The breakdown is as follows - projects 36%, welfare providers 40%, MTS / AOS line items 13%, scholarships 7% and other donations 4% The AMWS Chairman David Parmeter today said that the organisation is proud of what it had achieved to date. He also committed AMWS to carry on its involvement in seafarer welfare into the future. |
