06.05.2020
On the front foot to help seafarers
A virtual voyage around the world, on foot, cycling and afloat, by Port of London Authority (PLA) staff is raising money for seafarers working to keep trade flowing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Headquartered in Gravesend, Kent, the company’s 400-strong workforce combines front-line employees, who continue to work on the tidal River Thames and in control centres to keep ships arriving safely in port during the crisis, with back-office staff, many of whom have been in lockdown at home for over six weeks.
Just after Easter, they started sharing the miles they are clocking up to keep physically and mentally fit, both at home and at work.
Collectively they have now travelled over 6380 miles and are on the way to Kolkata in India. Their target is to complete their circumnavigation of the planet by the end of May, national walking month.
Along the way, the team is raising funds for the Mission To Seafarers charity, which works to support crews working on vessels, often spending many months away from their loved ones, to maintain global supplies of essential goods.
The initiative is led by the PLA’s chief financial officer, Julie Tankard, who said: “We wanted to find a way to connect our organisation in something that was fun, yet did not require us to meet physically, so a few of us collaborated and we decided to work our way around the world via river city ports, like London. The response has been fantastic and it’s also encouraged us to be more active whilst in lockdown.
“But even more importantly, it is raising much-needed funds for seafarers around the globe, who perform a vital but often over-looked service, keeping all of us supplied with goods, such as food, fuel and medicines.”
Julie added: “Life as a seafarer is not easy, even in normal circumstances. Weeks or even months afloat can be a very lonely existence.
“At the moment, due to COVID-19 public health restrictions, they are not allowed to disembark from their vessels when in port, meaning they need our support more than ever.”
To see how the team are doing go to our page: https://server1.pla.co.uk/Around-the-World-With-the-PLA
You can make a donation towards the PLA team’s fundraising effort via Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Around-the-world-with-the-PLA.
ends
Picture and video available, showing PLA staff in action on their online global journey.
For further information, please contact: Lauren Hoven 079333 97825, or Nick Tennant: 07784 208074.
- Founded in 1856 and funded entirely by voluntary donations, The Mission to Seafarers offers emergency assistance and support to crews around the world. Whether victims of piracy or those shipwrecked or stranded, we’re there for the globe’s merchant seafarers of all ranks, nationalities and beliefs
- The PLA works to ensure navigational safety along the tidal Thames, stretching 95 miles from Teddington to the North Sea. It shares its marine, environmental, planning and other expertise to promote use of the river and safeguard its unique marine environment. The tidal Thames is one of the UK’s busiest waterways and is home to the country’s second biggest port by tonnage of goods handled.
