[Anglican Communion News Service] The Anglican mission agency Mission to Seafarers has launched a Corporate Partnerships Portfolio with suggestions for how the maritime industry can deliver on corporate social responsibility. The document also describes how the mission, and more widely the shipping community, can provide practical support for seafarers’ welfare projects around the world.

The 32-page document details key areas that are vital for the operations carried out by the mission, corporate social responsibility, its network of branches, corporate partnership, and the support it receives and employee engagement. As well as these, the Corporate Paternships Portfolio offers a comprehensive guide to the work of the mission and lists a number of sponsorship and corporate partnership opportunities.

“This document signals an important move to showcase the work we achieve, while at the same time raising awareness of the issues that depend on the shipping industry’s support and generosity,” the agency’s secretary general, Andrew Wright, said. “Raising funds is extremely challenging and we are deeply grateful to the support we receive in our work. Seafarers need our help. Life at sea is often dangerous and demanding. Our service to them meets a very real need and it changes thousands of lives for the better.”

The Portfolio was launched at the industry’s leading global gathering Posidonia, which took place last week in Athens, Greece. The Mission to Seafarers had been chosen as the official charity for this year’s event. Posidonia director Theodore Vokos commented: “We are very happy to welcome the Mission to Seafarers as an official supported charity at Posidonia 2016 and to promote their very important work.

“Seafarers are the backbone of this important industry and organisations like the Mission to Seafarers, who support them, play an essential role in assuring that shipping will continue to serve the global economy.

“By supporting the mission we aim to increase awareness amongst members of the international maritime community about the issues facing seafarers. Posidonia participants are invited to reach out to the Mission to Seafarers and learn more about its projects and needs.”