Ships of Hope – How you can make a life-changing impact

Mercy Ships is a world-leading health charity. We run the largest charity hospital ships in the world, to bring free, safe surgeries to people across sub-Saharan Africa.

9 out of 10 people in sub-Saharan Africa can’t access safe surgery. But we believe everyone has the right to healthcare. We use our state-of-the-art floating hospitals to bring expert care directly to the people who need it most.

Working with African nations, we train national healthcare professionals and build stronger medical services. Together, we make a lasting impact – long after our ships depart.

Together we can transform lives

Each year, more than 3,000 volunteers serve onboard the world’s two largest charity hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy.

Our crew includes captains, seafarers, surgeons, nurses, cooks and cleaners, and their young families, from more than 60 nations. Most of our crewmembers freely give their time onboard, so more funds can go directly to giving our patients expert medical care.

We help women, men and children who are in urgent need of surgery. Many of our patients have waited years – sometimes decades – for healing.

From restoring eyesight so mothers see their babies for the first time, from repairing cleft lips so children can smile with joy, our surgeries are truly life-changing.  

 

Dr Sarah Kwok, Chief Medical Officer, with a craniofacial patient in the hospital.

One in two people worldwide live near a coast, so our floating hospitals are the best way to reach people in urgent need. Volunteer mariners are just as vital to the work we do as surgeons.

Esther Dietrich, who served as Chief Officer, explains what inspired her to join Mercy Ships, “Being a mariner, I’ve seen a bit of the inequality of the world. My life is so privileged – education, healthcare, money, all things I never had to worry about. I really like the motivation behind Mercy Ships.

“The mindset here impresses me – the way all different crewmembers work together and support each other. The word ‘teamwork’ gets a different meaning.”

 

Esther Dietrich volunteered onboard the Africa Mercy as Chief Officer.

Jaël van den Berg, Deck Hand, agrees, “Serving with Mercy Ships helps me see the goodness of people… For me personally, there are continuous opportunities to learn and build on my career skills as well as my personal growth. But most of all, I see that Mercy Ships changes lives!”

We are proud of the many maritime professionals like Esther and Jaël who freely give their skills onboard to help people most in need. Without their help, our life-changing work wouldn’t be possible.

 

Our crew includes captains, seafarers, surgeons, nurses, cooks and cleaners, and young families from 60 nations

Make a lasting difference with a PartnerShip

If you believe everyone should have the right to free, safe surgery, then please become a maritime partner with Mercy Ships, contact our Partnership Development Advisor, Miranda Strawbridge

By partnering with us, you can help bring vital healthcare to people in unjust poverty. A PartnerShip can bring lasting benefits to companies and organisations like yours:

 

    • We can create a bespoke PartnerShips package to suit your company’s needs, based on our shared values.

    • Our tailor-made packages will engage your team and promote your impact to key audiences, including customers.

    • You will gain a model to support your corporate social responsibility goals.

    • You can choose the kind of support you offer, from donations to services.

    • Your employees can have the opportunity to volunteer on our hospital ships. In this unique experience, professionals will get chance to develop their careers, join our crew of mariners from all over the world, and bring lasting hope to our patients and their families.

Join us!

We’d love to hear from you and explore how you can come onboard.

To find out more about how you can join visit www.mercyships.org.uk today.

Together, we can help thousands of people transform their lives.

ESG in the maritime industry, a Q&A with Martin Crawford-Brunt, Lookout Maritime

Martin Crawford-Brunt, Lookout Maritime

How are the ESG and a sustainability agenda aligned or different?

The terms ESG and sustainability of often interchanged, however there are important nuances between these two terms which should be considered.

ESG is a set of standards measuring a business’s impact on society, the environment, and how transparent and accountable it is. The degree of compliance against the stated ESG policy is assessed against a variety of metrics. This assessment may be carried out by third party organisations, banks or the cargo interest or charterer.

Sustainability is about running a successful and resilient business which includes adopting ESG principles and delivering positive outcomes against them. This will become increasingly important as we live in an ever expanding data and information rich world where the speed of communication increases through social media.

Sustainability provides more space for aspirational initiatives which may not fit the typical compliance structure or one of the many metrics proposed. The danger is that too much focus on compliance with these ESG metrics may dilute the effectiveness and ambition of such programs.

What does ESG mean to your organisation?

Lookout Maritime was founded to support companies on their sustainability journey with a particular focus on operational reliability, safety and near-term emission reduction from the existing fleet of vessels serving global trade and prosperity daily.

To reduce the implementation risk and the investment needed requires the careful consideration of the wider regulatory and technical landscape and then blending and integrating this with the commercial and market outlook and realities for that business. The priorities and recommended sustainability roadmap typically varies with trade, market segment and company structures.

Why is ESG particularly important to the maritime industry?

Operating flawlessly in our industry 24/7, 365 is inherently challenging. Unfortunately, we suffer reputationally from a small number of bad actors, who tarnish the good reputation of the many responsible operators.

More than $3bn has be invested in more than 300 new maritime focused software companies which will provide increasing benchmarking services which are easily accessible. These platforms increase our ability to differentiate between these two groups and identify the responsible actors with improving accuracy.

It should be remembered that data is a long living asset and the ability to look forward as well as back provides key decision makers with the tools they need to reduce risk in their maritime supply chains.

When done correctly these initiatives become an important part of building a positive culture. This supports the propensity for individuals and businesses to act in the right way when think they aren’t being watched which brings a number of risk reduction benefits.

What are the benefits of an ESG strategy?

Businesses without an effective sustainability strategy and program expose themselves to a much greater risk following any incident even relatively minor ones. They will be required to provide evidence of the steps they have taken to reduce their operating risk in a credible way.

Without a well-considered and implemented sustainability strategy it becomes more challenging to build a positive culture.  This is vital to increase employee engagement, attraction and retention to secure the best talent.

Is there a particular ESG focus for 2023?

It is recommended that your ESG strategy considers the following three components and is not weighted towards the environment only.

  • Environmental – focus on near term optimisation for example solving the sail fast to wait split incentive. Don’t use metrics like CII in isolation, it is important to first understand what good looks like for your business and trade and use these to assess performance between contracting parties.

  • Social – ensure effective safety performance, wellness and training programs are provided to reduce accidents, improve culture and employee engagement.

  • Governance – use sustainability and ESG criteria to assess your business partners and to secure access to ongoing business as a preferred supplier. Stamp out any corrupt practices from other stakeholders. Understand the significant implications of the introduction of the EU ETS on KYC to open a carbon registry account.

About Lookout Maritime:

Lookout Maritime was established in April 2021 through a clear need to deliver practical solutions to the increasing demand for more sustainable business practices in the maritime industry.

Our focus areas include operational reliability, safety improvement, near term emission reduction and advising new technology and software companies entering the maritime industry on these aspects.

We partner and collaborate with leading experts and respected organisations to identify practical and executable solutions to the sustainability challenges and opportunities we face as an industry.

For more information please visit http://www.lookoutmaritime.com and you can find Martin on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/mc-b

ESG in the maritime industry, a Q&A with Gina Panayiotou, ESG Manager at West of England P&I

What does ESG mean to your organisation?

At West, ESG is not just a tick-box exercise. Running our business on a sustainable basis and helping our members to do likewise is an imperative, as we see ESG as something which must underpin everything we do.

Corporations have a crucial role to play in leading this agenda and at West we aim to lead by example and ensure our members have a strong voice in shaping the sustainable maritime industries of tomorrow. To strengthen our efforts in this respect, West has enhanced the Corporate Department with a designated ESG function, drawing upon expertise in this area to build upon the function of the existing ESG Committee and formulate alongside the Board an ESG & Sustainability Strategy which is aligned with all aspects of our business strategy.

Why is ESG particularly important to the maritime industry?

According to the World Economic Forum, International trade is vital to economic development, it has lifted 1 billion people out of poverty in recent decades. Around 90% of global trade moves by sea, with shipping being the least environmentally damaging form of commercial transport, but the sector still accounts for 2.9% of global emissions.

TheInternational Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted an initial strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from vessels, with key strategic objectives including (i) the reduction of carbon intensity of international shipping by 40% by 2030, pursuing efforts towards 70% by 2050 and (ii) the reduction of total annual GHG emissions by 50% by the year 2050.  Since 1 January 2023, all vessels are required to calculate their attained Energy Efficiency Existing Ship (EEXI) to measure their energy efficiency and to initiate the collection of data for the reporting of their carbon intensity indicator (CII) and CII rating. Furthermore, in accordance with the latest European Union (EU) proposal, the shipping sector will be included in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) by 2024. The measures have an extra-territorial reach and will also affect the movement of cargo outside of the EU’s borders. 

Furthermore, the increasing number of ESG related regulations in shipping, are a reflection of the emphasis that clients, investors and other stakeholders are placing on the maritime sustainability agenda.  As the least environmentally damaging from of commercial transport, we have a duty to sustain it sustainably and such duty can only be facilitated by successful sustainability and ESG strategies.

What are the benefits of an ESG strategy?

Sustainability & ESG is not only a moral case, but also a powerful business case. Without doubt the maritime industry is now faced with numerous challenges, from decarbonizing operations on the forefront and crew wellbeing in heightened focus, the process involves testing new fuel and energy solutions, new technologies, new vessel designs, embracing innovation and enhancing processes which ensure the mental wellbeing of their crew.

If companies fail to comply and to successfully illustrate how they are managing increasing regulatory risks, they will be subject to fines, reputational damage and less attractive to both talent and financiers – all of which are key components in running a successful business.

A clear indicator of why it makes business sense to embrace ESG strategies as an opportunity to create more resilient and future-proof businesses.

Is there a particular ESG focus for 2023?

It would be a risky exercise to pin-point focus areas as ESG needs to be approached with all elements in mind for it to work and for both businesses – and the world – to reap the benefits of it. Having said that, it should be mentioned that there is not a one-size fits all with ESG and every company needs to formulate an individualised strategy that is aligned with their own business plan, stakeholder interests and scope of influence.

With climate action having the most pressing deadline, it is safe to say that the environmental targets remain a primary focus. However, to reach these goals we need to be invested in diversity, creativity, innovation and transformational leadership, all of which fall under the other pillars of ESG. Looking ahead, if there had to be one focal point – and again I cannot stress enough the importance of bringing them all together – it would have to be governance structures and compliance, with a spotlight on the composition of company boards and heightened reporting standards across various jurisdictions.

For more ESG insight, you can follow Gina on LinkedIn

Artificial Intelligence in HR and recruitment, Heidi Watson from Clyde & Co

As we get ready for the Spinnaker Maritime People & Culture Conference next month, we ask Heidi Watson, Employment Partner at Clyde & Co to share her thoughts on AI in the HR sector, a topic she will be covering at this year’s event.

“Many employers rely on artificial intelligence to help in recruitment, management, and redundancy processes as it delivers huge efficiencies. However, a reliance on AI also exposes employers to discrimination and other legal risk. This is because AI tools are both created and typically ‘trained’ by humans to reach certain decisions, and so the technology is therefore inherently subject to human biases.”

“From a liability perspective, it is an employer’s responsibility to ensure its use of AI is compliant with the law. Therefore, employers cannot escape liability by claiming to be unaware of the algorithm or blaming it for any issues that arise. Fundamentally, the use of AI raises concerns around fairness, transparency and accountability, particularly when considering the context in which those tools are used and the impact they have on both those individually affected and society at large. The presentation will help employers to understand the risks with using AI, outline the steps that they can take to address those risks and mitigate the possibility of legal, reputational, and financial exposure.”

You can follow Heidi on LinkedIn and meet her at this year’s Maritime People & Culture Conference on the 11th & 12th May in London.

Members of the Maritime HR Association are eligible for a free delegate space at the conference and can get in touch with the Spinnaker team to reserve a ticket, [email protected]

If you are not a member, tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite at the following link: https://2023spinnakerconference.eventbrite.co.uk

For updates on the conference agenda and speaker announcements, follow our LinkedIn page @spinnakerglobal.

For any other enquiries, including further information on sponsorship packages for the event, please contact us via email at [email protected] or by phone on +44 (0)1702 481 643.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the maritime industry – Njsane Courtney, ABS

As we get ready for the Spinnaker Maritime People & Culture Conference next month, we ask Njsane Courtney the Vice President of Human Resources and Global DE&I Officer for ABS for his thoughts on the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Consumer attitudes and demands are significant drivers in the global economy. If consumers want more of a particular product, businesses throughout the supply chain will coordinate to meet demand. Likewise, if consumers expect their products and services to reflect environmentally or socially responsible features, companies should work to meet those demands.

Operating a sustainable and inclusive business is the right thing to do for the planet and your people. Still, there is a clear business case for aligning with consumer expectations. According to 5W Public Relations, 71% of consumers prefer buying products from organizations that share their values.

End-consumer interaction with the maritime industry is indirect at most, but considering that around 80% of all goods are transported by sea, consumer sentiment can have a domino effect throughout the supply chain. It is essential that maritime industry leaders be proactive about reinforcing people-centered values, not only for the business case but also to create fair and equal opportunities for all employees. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives offer an avenue for organizations to both take a leadership stance on biases as well as meet consumer and partner expectations.

At American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), we understand the importance of providing leadership in an era of change. For example, while we support the global maritime fleet on the journey to net-zero emissions, we are also working to reduce our environmental impact and improve sustainability in our global offices.

While sustainability initiatives are partly driven by the need for the industry to be a good steward of our planet, DE&I initiatives can be described as businesses being good stewards of our people.

Organizations that embrace DE&I-centric processes have access to a larger talent pool, helping make their businesses a place people with diverse experiences and backgrounds will want to work. A more diverse workforce further helps show your partners that your organization can align with the consumer-centric values they seek, improving business relationships in the process.

Of course, it’s not enough to establish a DE&I program —to check the diversity box and move on. Starting a DE&I initiative means actively implementing a strategy and fostering an inclusive workplace culture for all our people, regardless of traits or differences.

As a global organization of 53 nationalities and 31 ethnicities, ABS recognizes that the more diversity we have on our team, the better we perform and serve our clients. People are at the core of everything we do, and we are committed to maintaining a workforce representing different cultures and backgrounds, creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all.

We’ve achieved several notable milestones since launching our DE&I initiative:

  • In 2022, nearly 30 percent of all senior-level promotions or new hires were women.
  • In 2022, nearly 20 percent of all promotions were minorities.
  • Achieved 42 percent of incoming university hires that are female and/or minority.
  • Established new scholarship funds for two historically Black colleges and universities in the United States.

We’ve also established three employee resources groups in the last year, with more on the way. One group is focused on empowering women in the maritime industry, a second on creating connections and a community for our military veterans, and the third is dedicated to the growth and development of black employees.

Finally, it’s important to always strive to do better. One of the ways ABS does this is through continuous learning. This year, ABS plans to roll out additional training for employees and managers. We are also planning an in-person, external subject matter expert-led workshop for senior executives regarding unconscious bias and how to foster a more inclusive environment.

Embracing DE&I initiatives and committing to making the maritime industry — ABS and beyond — a more inclusive and equitable workplace will help align our values with consumer expectations, strengthen relationships with our supply chain partners, and enable our people to thrive and succeed.

You can follow Njsane on LinkedIn

ESG in the maritime industry, a Q&A with Scott Bergeron, Managing Director of Global Engagement & Sustainability at Oldendorff Carriers.

As we continue with our theme of Sustainability throughout the month of April, in support of World Earth Day, we asked Scott Bergeron for his thoughts on ESG in the maritime industry.

What does ESG mean to the maritime industry?

In the maritime industry, ESG principles are becoming increasingly important as companies strive to reduce their environmental impact and ensure responsible labour practices. The industry is working to align its business practices with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The risks of making wrong decisions on sustainability issues, due to insufficient research or understanding, is more significant now than it has ever been. Companies are investing in cleaner technologies and practices such as fuel efficiency, renewable energy, hardware solutions, digitalisation, and waste management to reduce their carbon footprint and protect the ocean and its inhabitants. They are also focusing on social responsibility by looking into the welfare of their employees, both on shore and at sea, in respect to occupational health, and safety, and collaborating with local communities to ensure that their operations are beneficial to the area.

Finally, companies are focusing on governance by ensuring that their code of conduct is consistent with society and community expectations. Often extending these corporate governance requirements to their suppliers (such as with the IMPA Act for responsible supply chain management). Management training in ethics and anti-corruption, diversity, and cybersecurity also play a significant role in the industries governance strategy.

Why is ESG particularly important to the maritime industry?

ESG is particularly important in the industry because shipping transports about 80% of all traded goods and the shipping industry is responsible for 3% of the worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. ESG helps ensure that the maritime industry considers the long-term sustainability of their operations and that their activities are conducted responsibly and in compliance with applicable regulations. Additionally, shipping companies that demonstrate a commitment to ESG initiatives can attract investment capital and secure insurance at more favorable terms, helping them to remain competitive in an increasingly challenging market.

What are the benefits of an ESG strategy?

ESG factors can help identify and manage a variety of risks, including reputational, regulatory, and environmental risks. Studies have shown that properly implemented ESG strategies can result in positive financial returns over the long term. ESG-focused companies are becoming increasingly attractive to clients, investors, and prospective employees, especially those that are socially conscious and value-driven. ESG strategies can also lead to improved performance, both financial and operational, and enhanced corporate governance, resulting in more informed decision-making and higher transparency. ESG strategies can result in a more engaged and loyal workforce, leading to improved employee productivity and morale.

Is there a particular ESG focus for the Maritime Industry in 2023?

The ESG focus for the maritime industry is to align itself to the environmental goals set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The trade press is full of articles about various initiatives and joint ventures investigating a broad array of ideas to decarbonise the maritime industry.

Partnerships, such as Oldendorffs multi-year research agreement with MIT, have been signed to research possibilities to achieve the IMO 2030/50 requirements. Feasibility studies are being made into using alternative fuels instead of the conventional fossil-based fuels used today. Engine designers are exploring how to incorporate these new fuel types. Trials are taking place across the world with ships using biofuels. Fuel saving devices including Becker Mewis Ducts and rudder bulbs are being retrofitted onto ships. Advanced hull coatings, that reduce hydrodynamic drag, and propellor coatings, that reduce marine growth and improve propulsion, are also being tested. Some vessels have long stroke engines and auxiliary engine economisers, which reduce fuel consumption and emissions, in addition, emission abatement technology is being used. There are also initiatives looking into the best way to optimise port calls by collating the information from the vessel, port, and receivers to save fuel and streamline the port operation. The Clydebank Declaration was signed at the COP26 to support the establishment of Green Corridors, these are being used as working examples to accelerate progress in understanding and tackling the decarbonisation of specific shipping routes. Wind assistance is being used by ships in the form of Flettner rotors, sails, or towing kites. These innovations all increase energy efficiency, thereby reducing fuel consumption and the resulting emissions. This demonstrates that the shipping industry is focusing on its responsibility to the environment, however, it still has a long way to go, with no silver bullet and no time to waste.

For more ESG insight, you can follow Scott on LinkedIn

UK Maritime Pay Gap and Gender Diversity

Changing tradition

It is quite easy to assume that the maritime industry is driven by tradition rather than requirements of time; being a rather niche sphere, it is only natural to think it is playing by its own rules. However, having released 16-yearly salary surveys and multiple market analysis reports, we can now say that maritime IS changing, and following trends seen globally of diversity and inclusion. Maybe the pace is not as rapid as some would like, but looking back we see how from being viewed from the outside as an entirely male-dominated, more women are joining the industry and progressing.

In 2022, 87 companies participated in Spinnaker’s Maritime HR Association annual salary survey, reporting data for more than 42,000 shore-based maritime industry professionals in 95 countries. These are the key facts.

Since 2017, MHRA’s mean gender pay gap has reduced by 7% and the 2022 median pay gap of 39.95% is the lowest ever reported.

Gender Diversity analysis also reveals that 45% of the global Maritime HR Association workforce were female in 2022.  It’s only 2% more than in 2021 but since we started collecting this data in 2018, we have seen a 10% increase.

15% of Executive Leadership roles are held by women.

Women are most likely to be found in corporate functions – making up over 50% of the Crewing, HR, Finance, Marketing and Admin Support roles. This tendency has not changed since 2018.

Outside the Corporate functions, the largest proportion of women is within the Commercial Operations job family – 32% in 2022.

Where more work needs to be done

Although the above is great news, it is still the case that most roles that require a deck or engineering background are still filled by males, explaining the smallest percentage of females are found in the Technical, Marine, Safety & Quality job family which is 13%.

Diversity challenges within your own business will vary based on location, culture and professional specialisms – each of which will pose their own unique challenges – but there are some key HR practices identified by the CIPD that can be adopted to support total inclusivity globally, including monitoring recruitment and progression, monitoring the take up and impact of flexible working, monitoring of rewardetc.

Get in touch via email or call +44 (0)1702 481660 to find out more about membership of the Maritime HR Association and/or gender diversity strategies.

Written by Daryna Rozum, Reward Consultant, Spinnaker

ESG in the maritime industry, a Q&A with Angus Campbell, former Corporate Director of energy projects for the Schulte Group

As part of World Earth Day we have dedicated the month of April to Sustainability and have asked experts in the maritime industry for their thoughts on ESG and how this affects the maritime industry.

We start the month with a Q&A with the former Corporate Director of energy projects for the Schulte Group, Angus Campbell.

What should ESG mean to an organisation?

An important question. When a shipping company embarks on defining what it means to focus on the environment, society and governance in the context of their business they have to mean it. The reputational risk of claiming that this is a priority, without getting meaningful top to bottom participation within the organisation, can be high. As charterers, banks and other participants in the maritime value chain look at ESG as a requirement for participation, you must be able to demonstrate such sustainability under audit, to prove that there is real and measurable operational substance underpinning the strategy. Not always easy, given the capital cost and difficulty predicting specific regulations and direction that each sector will eventually take.

Why is ESG particularly important to the maritime industry?

As an industry with a significant impact on the environment, it is likely to be under the microscope. Other industries are reducing carbon footprint more quickly, which will make shipping emissions increasingly visible. Shipping is no longer a service operating over the horizon and out of sight. It is seen as a carbon intensive part of the value chain for all products. As a carbon intensive industry, a meaningful and escalating carbon price would have a significant impact. Change takes time, but I would suggest that formulating a plan to mitigate this offers an opportunity to remain sustainable and competitive. ESG will also be important in meeting the challenge of attracting seafarers. A well articulated and resourced ESG strategy may increase the ability to attract, recruit and retain staff.

What are the benefits of an ESG strategy?

Demonstrating to an internal and external audience that the business is forward looking, aware of the challenges ahead and is planning how to meet them. It may become a matter of survival. Is a business positioned to play in the premier league, by investing in sustainability? Or will it sit on the fence, unsure of how to change, making it less attractive as a business partner. An effective ESG strategy could be described as an essential roadmap to a sustainable and successful future. Clearly the maritime industry is global, diverse and largely unconsolidated with no ‘one size fits all’ solution. However, the benefits of planning an individual strategy that works for you, even if this is future good intentions at the moment, is an important starting point.

Should there be a particular ESG focus for 2023?

The definition of ESG can be overwhelmingly broad, but environmental regulations, recruitment and retention aspects may be dominant. Taking carbon footprint as an example, the task is huge, expensive and time consuming. Can the cost and global availability of cleaner fuels be calculated in a way that allows investment confidence to be developed? If so, can businesses attract, train and retain sufficient core staff to see the plan to fruition? It all starts with an appropriate strategy which, by 2023, should be mature and capable of evolving as the new landscape takes shape. Major players are taking decisive steps towards sourcing and consuming cleaner fuels. Regulatory frameworks and green corridor initiatives are taking shape around the world. Shipyards and equipment manufacturers are increasingly able to offer technical solutions. Perhaps developing an effective strategy in 2023 is not as difficult as it was some years ago when the debate started.

You can follow Angus on Linkedin

OSCAR Dragon Boat Race 2023

oscar

Come and join us for the 8th OSCAR Dragon Boat Race on Friday 15 September 2023!

The OSCAR Campaign has raised over £2.5 million for Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH). The OSCAR Campaign’s namesake is Oscar Parry, son of Spinnaker Chairman Phil Parry. Oscar was treated for two types of leukaemia from age 3 to age 8. He had two bone marrow transplants – the second trialling an entirely new theory, experimental stem cell transplant, 5 brain haemorrhages. Now 22, Oscar is a living example of the value of bench-to-bedside research and treatment.

To enter the OSCAR Dragon Boat Race all you need to do is get a team of 11 people together (10 rowers and 1 drummer) – it’s as simple as that!

You will compete against other companies from the shipping industry at the Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre at the event in September.

It’s great fun and you’ll also raise money for serious ill children at Great Ormond Street on behalf of the OSCAR Campaign.

What does the event involve?

25 teams compete against one other and the top six teams battle it out in a final.
There is a bar, food, quayside games and activities and a DJ to get everyone in the mood.
This year there will also be a classic car show as part of the event. It’s an excellent networking event and good fun. Most importantly, no training is required for those who want to race.

Previous teams include.

Oldendorff, Borealis Maritime, AM Nomikos, Lomar Shipping, Oceonix / JP Morgan, LISCR, Gaslog, Golar LNG, Scorpio, MSC Cruises, North of England P&I, WFW Solicitors, RWE Trading, Coolco, AET, John Swire & Sons, Stephenson Harwood, The Baltic Exchange, Augustea, Arrow Shipbroking, Teekay, Lloyds Register, Waves Group, BDO LLP, Hill Dickinson, Ince & Co, Skuld P&I, JLT Specialty, UK P&I, Union Maritime,  HFW, Beazley, Port of London Authority, Thomas Miller, Clyde & Co, Department for Transport, Shipowners Club, Britannia P&I, Clarksons Platou, Talbot Underwriting, Blue Communicatinos. CJC Law, Steamship Mutual, Neon Underwriting, IRI Marshall Islands, Graypage, CI Connect, Nectar Group,  C Solutions, IG, BRS Brokers, Nautilus, Pole Star, Mavega, HSBC Ship Finance 

Location

Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre, 235A Westferry Road, Isle of Dogs, London E14 3QS

Fundraising

The registration fee is £500 and we ask you to commit to raising an additional £5,000 through sponsorship.

Why sign up?

  • Network with people in the shipping industry
  • Enjoy a fun day out with the team
  • Food and drink supplied
  • Make a real, tangible difference to lives of seriously ill children from across the world
  • You’ll have a great time!

To register your interest please email Phil Parry at [email protected]  or visit https://www.gosh.org/get-involved/fundraising-events/oscar-dragon-boat-race/