Merchant Navy Day 2018 Marked by MVS
The MVS has marked Merchant Navy Day at events around the UK.
Merchant Navy Day is the annual celebration of the British Merchant Navy, to recognize and raise awareness of our dependence on our past, present and future Merchant Navy seafarers.
It is also a memorial for the 36,000 merchant seafarers who died at sea in World War Two.
In Liverpool the service was represented by our Vice Chair Chris Todd, along with Eddie Oades, D/RVO Cinque Ports and Freddie Brown the new MVS Membership Secretary.
Every year hundreds of people gather at Liverpool Parish Church – the Sailors' Church – to celebrate Merchant Navy Day where the Red Ensign flag is displayed.
This is followed by an Act of Remembrance at the Merchant Navy Memorial at the Pier Head.
In Eastbourne, the MVS national training vessel East Sussex 1 was 'dressed overall' with signal flags to mark the day.
The senior skipper of East Sussex 1, Les Quilty, who organised the tribute said: "We are proud to honour those who work at sea, out of sight and, sadly, often out of mind of the general public.
One of the objectives of the MVS is to increase awareness of all things maritime and our country's dependence on the sea."
Picture: Following the service and wreath laying in Liverpool Vice Chair Chris Todd met with the Maritime Cadets Chief of Operations, Cdr (MCdt) Kevin Rodgers MCGI.