What a great evening. The Royal Albatross was rocking and not just by the wind and waves. How the time just flew by!

In the middle of a particularly wet week, the rain held off and a jolly good time was had by all, whilst raising funds for the Mission to Seafarers Singapore and its work caring for the needs of seafarers passing through the Singapore Strait.

Thanks to all those who attended, the excellent crew and particularly the sponsors (in no particular order), Boyd Marine Consultants, Baltic Exchange, Smart Ship© Hub and Angra Wine & Spirit. We really could not have done this without their support.

Thanks also for supporting with other sponsorships and raffle prizes: The Nautical Institute (Singapore), The Royal Albatross, Skypark by A.J. Hackett, Tadcaster Hospitality, Lion Brewery Co, The Logistics & Supply Chain Management Society, P Ship Systems, Chris Jones, Capt Raj Chada, Mike Meade FNI CMMar MICS, Prof Capt Frederick Francis and for the excellent music, Alexander Gow.

See you next year!

We took the opportunity of the support we receive from our friends at Marine Money Week Asia to launch our 16th January 2025 fundraising 'Sunset Sail' full of fun&frolics on board the beautiful Royal Albatross.

Places are limited and we have a booking deadline of 15th November 2024, so please do not hesitate to contact us for details of individual prices and sponsorship opportunities. Please email johnbodill@mtss.org.sg to register your interest.

The Mission to Seafarers Singapore’s newly appointed committee Chairman and Vice Chairman, Frederick Francis and Chris Jones, met with Tradewinds reporters, Rachelle Evangelista and Jonathan Boonzaier, to discuss the challenges that lie ahead for the Mission in its future efforts to support the welfare needs of seafarers as the Tuas ‘super port’ develops and expands.

The full interview can be found here.

Thank you Tradewinds!

Echoing our own commitment to sustainability and encouraging the elimination of the use of plastic water bottles on board, our chaplain, Toh Soon Kok, was pleased to be able to pass on some premium quality 'Zero Marine' reusable bottles at Jurong Port.

Clearly, they were well received by the crews of vessels Serene Ocean and Prospect Ocean and the kind donation by P Ship Systems is most appreciated. Thank you Giorgos Kyriazis.

MtSS chaplain, Toh Soon Kok, graciously accepted a kind donation from Sukumar Verma, MD of the Maritime & Energy Group, Singapore at Informa Markets, organisers of last week's glitzy Marine Fuels 360 Awards. With many thanks to these long time supporters (and previously under the Seatrade Maritime banner) and the recognition given of the extra challenges facing seafarers with the introduction of a plethora of new fuels going forward.

A pleasure last Friday to welcome 54 guests from Rio Tinto Singapore, Canada, China and Australia to our Jurong drop-in centre, where some 400 gift bags were frantically stuffed with goodies, essentials and individual thank you notes which will be distributed to visiting seafarers and ships over the next few days. With 230 chartered and 17 owned ships, Rio Tinto values not just the dedicated work of its own 6000 seafarers, but of all of those plying their trade at sea, for the benefit of all of us. Many thanks from all of us to the team from Rio Tinto for your visit and support of the Mission's work.

Here's our chaplain, Toh Soon Kok, proudly receiving a Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) MaritimeSG Care Award 2023 last week on behalf of the Mission to Seafarers Singapore (MtSS), from the hands of Singapore's Minister for Transport, Mr. S Iswaran. During the uniquely difficult circumstances caused by the pandemic, MtSS still managed to get gift packs on board and provided portable routers for crew to connect with their families, as well as providing individual seafarer support online. Even on our small island, with hundreds of ships in full view of everybody looking out to sea, seafarers are still so often invisible to the public and for the Mission, helping them in any way we can is a privilege. Nevertheless we are gratified by the recognition and constant support by MPA. Soon Kok was joined on this special day by various members of the local committee, volunteers who are equally dedicated and appreciated. You can help us help seafarers by clicking through to the Donate yellow box, top right!

It was a pleasure to be able to bring some crew members into town for some much-needed shore leave after having spent 2 months at anchorage, with bento sets for the trip provided by SMOU. The itinerary included Gardens By The Bay, the Merlion Park and shopping at the 'everything under one roof' Mustafa Centre. We've also been busy collating and delivering Chinese New Year gift packs to vessels in port and at anchorage which have been most appreciated. So many seafarers still have few chances for 'outside' contact that every little helps!

It was great to get back to a 'live' Seafarers Awards ceremony in Singapore for the first time since May 2019. Congratulations to all the winners and highly commended entries and thanks, as always, to our sponsors.

The British High Commission Singapore and Saint George’s Church invite you to a Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday 17 September at 4.30pm. The service will be held at St George’s Church, 44 Minden Road, Singapore 248816. Doors to the church will open at 4.00pm and seats are limited. The dress is optional dark formal. Those who would like to join the service remotely may do so via live stream on Saint George’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3XiiscEDE364s6-ixmdgrw

The entire Mission to Seafarers family is profoundly saddened to hear of the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. We send our deepest sympathies to the Royal Family and all those mourning this great loss. We are honoured to have had Her Majesty as our Patron for the full length of her reign and give thanks for her supportive association with us over so many years. We owe her a particular debt of gratitude and share the sadness felt by countless others around the world.

It was a pleasure and a privilege this week to receive the first seafarers back to our Jurong Port drop-in centre after, in the words of our port chaplain, Toh Soon Kok, '2 long years'! Soon Kok was also able to drive them to the world-famous Mustafa Centre in Little India for a proper break from months on board and of course a little retail therapy for some essentials and treats.

January 17, 2022

December 21, 2021

Congratulations again to all the finalists, highly commended and winners of the Seafarers’ Awards 2021. We are pleased to announce the Awards Winners below: 

November 15, 2021

A beautiful morning at the immaculately-kept Kranji War Memorial once again for this year’s  Remembrance Sunday service. Strictly by invitation only and with very limited numbers this time to adhere to the continuing safety measures, the rest of us were lucky enough to follow on the live stream.  However, our Chairman, Capt. Rob Walker, was indeed present and laid a wreath on behalf of the Mission to Seafarers Singapore.

Lest we forget.

October 13, 2021

Due to the continued uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 and restrictions in Singapore, we have decided to take our Awards Ceremony online.

October 8, 2021

The Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union has kindly supplied 300 Covid-19 test kits for off-signers on board Singapore registered ships and we welcome the opportunity for a quick safe-distanced chat with seafarers at the gangway as we deliver them at Jurong Port.

September 16, 2021

Sign up and support the Mission to Seafarers Singapore at the same time via Sea Asia’s kind donation for every registrant – another excellent reason to attend besides a great few days of outstanding conferences and virtual interaction.

August 28, 2021

*PLEASE NOTE, DEADLINE FOR SEAFARERS’ AWARDS ENTRIES EXTENDED TO 10th SEPTEMBER 2021*

There are countless seafarers out there who deserve the same recognition as did Giovanni Lauron in 2019, as well as shore-based staff and others.

August 11, 2021

Our thanks go to Sea Asia 2021 for its kind and generous support of the Mission to Seafarers Singapore.

This virtual event runs from 21-23 September 2021 and you can get a ‘Sneak Peek’

August 2, 2021 

Over the past 2 weeks MtSS staff members were able to distribute gift packs to seafarers on board 20 vessels at anchorage in the Singapore Strait.

July 21, 2021

Pictured: Tommy, Soon Kok, Rob and Susan from the Mission to Seafarers Singapore along with the Rev. Ian Hadfield from St. George’s Church.

June 30, 2021

Day of the Seafarer 2021 saw MPA, SMOU and the Mission to Seafarers Singapore present gift packs to off-signers eagerly awaiting their flights home.

June 15, 2021

Spare local coins or foreign notes?

April 30, 2021

Thanks to our friends at LogiSYM/CARGONOW/LSCMS for the invitation to our Port Chaplain, Toh Soon Kok, to speak at LogiSYM Asia Pacific 2021 and for the Mission to Seafarers Singapore to feature as the event’s official Charitable Organisation.

April 7, 2021

Chairman of the MTSS Ambassador group, Chris Jones, chaired the latest episode in the excellent BritCham Singapore Podcast series covering the continued impact of COVID-19 on seafarers.

March 2, 2021

The Mission to Seafarers Singapore thanks the ‘Heroes at Sea’ fundraising group for its kind donation of almost S$17,000 which was raised from sponsors and participants in its Circumnavigate the Globe initiative during November and December 2020.  It seems they clocked up enough kms between them to have actually gone twice around!

February 5, 2021

Participating in yesterday’s SMM ‘Open Stream’ entitled ‘COVID-19 and Seafarers’ Welfare: Lessons Learned and Prospects for the Future’, Canon Andrew Wright, General Secretary of the Mission to Seafarers, reflected that whilst the need to assist seafarers through the current pandemic crisis is the biggest peacetime challenge we have faced, it is hoped that it can be the turning point in addressing many of the pre-existing issues.

January 19, 2021

Vice-President of the Mission to Seafarers, Mr. Esben Poulsson, together with the Assistant General Secretary of the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union, Mr. Larry Gwee and local MTSS staff, recently visited the Crew Facilitation Centre (CFC) at Tanjong Pagar Terminal.

December 1, 2020

Port Chaplain Toh Soon Kok joined the panel today for the Seafarers’ Health & Wellness plenary session chaired by Capt. Yves Vandenborn, Hon. President of the Nautical Institute (Singapore), which discussed the short and long-term needs for improvement.

November 7, 2020

The winners of the 2020 Seafarers’ Awards were revealed on 6th November in a virtual ceremony viewed around the globe.

November 2, 2020

Join MtS and other maritime industry figures for a virtual Awards ceremony to celebrate the contribution to welfare made by seafarers worldwide in 2020.

Register here

August 28, 2020

*NOMINATIONS EXTENDED for the SEAFARERS’ AWARDS to 30th SEPTEMBER 2020* Five awards for outstanding contributions to seafarers’ welfare: SEAFARER’S AWARD – The seafarer who has made a significant contribution to welfare at sea. SHORE-BASED AWARD – The shore-based person who has made a significant contribution to seafarers’ welfare.

16th August 2020:  Sea Sunday was celebrated locally and online from St.George’s Church, Singapore, where thanks and prayers were offered for Seafarers worldwide and their continued dedication during the current crisis, despite increasingly difficult conditions.

July 13, 2020

Sea Sunday has been a long-term fixture on The Mission to Seafarers’ calendar, but the event this year carries even greater poignancy. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers have selflessly continued to keep the global economy turning – ensuring that essential cargoes of food, medicine, fuel and other supplies reach us.

18^th: Very pleasing to restart anchorage visits after several months due to the pandemic.  Measures were in place to ensure minimal contact between seafarers and the MtSS Chaplain, Soon Kok Toh.  A line was lowered from the ship for the Chaplain to secure care packs – kindly provided collectively by MPA, SMOU, SOS/Seacare and SSA – for the seafarers to hoist aboard.

June 23, 2020

Thanks again to Seatrade and Mr. Chris Hayman for their support of the Mission to Seafarers Singapore during today’s excellent and unique Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia 2020 online presentation!

March 30, 2020

Staff of MtSS brought some relief last week to seafarers who have not had the chance to leave their ships for the last two months, delivering some local fare including chicken rice, pandan cakes, chicken pau, prawns and squid.  Sorry no chilli crab this time round guys!

March 30, 2020

10th DECEMBER 2020 – the new date for the Seafarers’ Awards Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental, Singapore.

Thanks to all our sponsors and stakeholders for their continued support – there’s still some tables left, as well as more time to get your entries in, with the deadline extended to 17th August 2020.

February 20, 2020

December 17, 2019

…as the MTSS Chaplain, Toh Soon Kok, his colleagues, volunteers and staff from SMOU welcomed visitors to the drop-in centre there for some Christmas cheer.

December 9, 2019

With another excellent turnout, the 17th ‘Carols by Candlelight’ evening was enjoyed by all those in attendance, from young children to the somewhat older 3 Kings from the Mission to Seafarers Singapore!

October 7, 2019

Come along and say hi to the Mission to Seafarers Singapore at IMPA on the 5th and 6th November at Suntec City, the ASEAN event for maritime purchasing and supply professionals.  

September 3, 2019

Some real food for thought from speakers who shared their insight and research at the MPA’s International Safety@Sea Conference 2019.  Clockwise, from top left: Capt Kevin Wong, Port Master, MPA; Ms Jodie Reibel,VP, Wilhelmsen; Dr Quek Boon Kiat, Director, A*STAR Institute of High Performance Computing; Commander (Ret.) Itai Sela, Founder and CEO, Naval Dome; Mr Andrew Wong, Regional Manager, IMarEST.

August 26, 2019

Better late than never, they say, and Seafarers from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Montenegro and the   Philippines will no doubt agree as they enjoyed the facilities at the International Seafarers Drop-in Centre at Pasir Panjang, along with some excellent local fare, kindly supplied by SMOU, to celebrate Singapore’s 54th birthday.

The Mission to Seafarers Singapore was privileged to have along Mr. Wong Kai Cheong, Deputy Director of MPA’s Shipping Division, to extend the official welcome to the Seafarers and to thank them for all their hard work on behalf of us all.  This was echoed by SMOU’s Industrial Relations Officer, Mr. Kelvin Lin, and MTSS Chaplain, Toh Soon Kok.

Gift hampers were distributed for those attending to share with crew members and StarHub gave free sim cards, which were also much appreciated.

August 2, 2019

A heads up everybody for 2020’s event of the year, the 3rd annual Seafarers’ Awards Dinner!

So save the date, Friday 29th May at the Mandarin Oriental, Singapore.

July 8, 2019

Susan Koh and the team have been hard at work and kick-started our Sea Sunday 2019 by delivering envelopes at the St Andrews Cathedral clergy meeting last week.

July 8, 2019

On a thoroughly good evening at the recent Seatrade Asia Awards in Hong Kong, the Reverend Canon Stephen Miller accepts Seatrade’s kind donation to the Mission to Seafarers Singapore. 

May 29, 2019

Thanks again to Tradewinds for its continued support for our fundraising efforts in Singapore and beyond.

Don’t forget, if you missed out on this excellent evening, you can still donate at:  www.giving.sg/the-mission-to-seafarers-singapore

May 27, 2019 

Guests from across the industry shared an excellent evening in Singapore on 10th May in appreciation of Seafarers worldwide.  The Awards winners were:

April 12, 2019

MTSS thanks the organisers of the excellent Asian Marine Casualty Forum for their support this week.

Some great questions raised as to the expectations placed on Seafarers in times of crisis, from firefighting to social media!  

February 15, 2019

Do you have a colleague, or does your company deserve recognition for outstanding contributions to Seafarers’ welfare?

January 29, 2019

The Mission to Seafarers Singapore invites the maritime community to join us on this special evening at the InterContinental Hotel to celebrate the role seafarers play in our everyday lives.