A NEW free telephone and internet referral service, Seafarer Support, has been established to direct seafarers, their families and welfare professionals to a charity or other organisation best placed to assist.

A NEW free telephone and internet referral service, Seafarer Support, has been established to direct seafarers, their families and welfare professionals to a charity or other organisation best placed to assist. The service is open to those from a background in the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and fishing fleets. It has been established in response to research that found that many in the seafaring community were unaware of the help available both inside and outside the maritime charity sector.

The telephone line, on 0800 121 4765, is open between 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, with an out of hours messaging service. It can also be accessed through the Internet at: www.seafarersupport.org

The service is funded by the Maritime Charities Funding Group (MCFG), a partnership consisting of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, NUMAST Welfare Funds, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, Seafarers UK, Seaman's Hospital Society and Trinity House.

Rev Peter Paine, chairman of the local Merchant Navy Welfare Board said: “In theses days of hardship any help which can be accessed can make a huge difference to a seafarers life, and I encourage seafarers to use this service.”

The service was launched by Captain Tony Foster and Councillor Paul Garrod last week at Great Yarmouth Town Hall, with members of the local committee.